Percutaneous continual electro-acupuncture stimulation system for in vivo and in situ tissue engineering

Abstract

The invention includes an electro-acupuncture stimulation system for in vivo and in situ analgesia and tissue repair and regeneration. Electrodes, which can be acupuncture needles, are percutaneously implanted that deliver a pulsed electrical current that creates an electrical field, which envelopes the targeted tissue and restores cell-generating homeostasis to the affected tissue and thereby promotes analgesia and tissue re-growth in otherwise debilitated or deteriorating tissue. Methods and apparatuses are also disclosed that may include a needle locking system and acupuncture-needle assemblies for long-term in situ electrical stimulation.

1 . A securable percutaneous acupunctural system comprising:
 At least one needle comprising an elongate body, proximal end, and distal end, the needle having a fastener component disposed on the elongate body; and   a needle-securing element configured to lock said implanted needles in situ, wherein the needle is retained in a desired anatomical point.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate body of the needle comprises a male screw threaded portion. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the needles have a diameter of between about 30 to 34 gauge. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the needles have a length of between about 8 mm to 2.5 cm. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said needle-securing element comprising a female-threaded portion that is configured to interface with the male threaded portion of the needle. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the needle-securing element has a press-fit outer surface. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a fixator cup sized to at least partially cover the needle-securing element. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the fixator cup includes a press-fit inner surface configured to attach to the press-fit outer surface of the needle-securing element. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein an outer surface of the cup is tied or soldered with a ring, which is connected to an insulated wire. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the wire is connected to one of the positive or negative leads of a jack, the jack having both the positive and negative leads connected to it; the jack operably connected to an output port of an electronic stimulator. 
   
   
       11 . A method for treating a patient, comprising:
 providing a plurality of needles;   selecting one or more treatment sites on a patient;   inserting the needles percutaneously into the treatment site of the patient;   providing an electrical stimulator;   connecting the needles to the stimulator; and   activating the stimulator;   wherein the needles remain percutaneously inserted in the treatment site for at least 24 hours.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein activating the stimulator involves increasing the power on the stimulator to a threshold level of sensation by the patient, and decreasing the power until it becomes sub-sensory to the patient. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the treatment site is a joint. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the joint is a knee. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13 , where the treatment site comprises one or more acupuncture points selected from the group consisting of Heting (S 156 ), Spleen  10 , Stomach  34 , Bladder  40 , Stomach  35 , and Hsiyen (S 145 ). 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the needles remain percutaneously inserted in the treatment site for at least 7 days. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the needles are operably connected to a needle-securing element configured to keep the needle in its originally inserted position. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the patient exhibits signs or symptoms of osteoarthritis. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the treatment sites comprise Heting (S 156 ), Spleen  10 , Stomach  34 , Bladder  40 , Stomach  35 , and Hsiyen (S 145 ) and the needles inserted into the treatment sites Heting (S 156 ), Spleen  10 , and Stomach  34  serve as positive electrodes while the needles inserted into treatment sites Bladder  40 , Stomach  35 , and Hsiyen (S 145 ) serve as negative electrodes. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the stimulator is activated for at least about 4 hours per day.