Systems and methods for treatment of dry eye
A stimulation system stimulates anatomical targets in a patient for treatment of dry eye. The system may include a controller and a microstimulator. The controller may be implemented externally to or internally within the microstimulator. The components of the controller and microstimulator may be implemented in a single unit or in separate devices. When implemented separately, the controller and microstimulator may communicate wirelessly or via a wired connection. The microstimulator may generate pulses from a controller signal and apply the signal via one or more electrodes to an anatomical target. The microstimulator may not have any intelligence or logic to shape or modify a signal. The microstimulator may be a passive device configured to generate a pulse based on a signal received from the controller. The microstimulator may shape or modify a signal. Waveforms having different frequency, amplitude and period characteristics may stimulate different anatomical targets in a patient.
1. A method for treating a condition of the eye comprising:
delivering a stimulus to an anatomical target to produce lacrimation, wherein the stimulus is delivered by an implanted microstimulator, wherein the microstimulator comprises a body and one or more electrodes integrated into the body,
wherein at least one of an amplitude and a pulse width of the stimulus is ramped over a ramp period, and wherein the stimulus does not activate pain sensation resulting from delivery of the stimulus.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the microstimulator further comprises a passive stimulation circuit.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the microstimulator is configured to stimulate the anatomical target via the one or more electrodes in response to a magnetic field.
4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising generating the magnetic field with an external controller.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the magnetic field is adjusted based at least in part on input from the user.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the microstimulator is pliable.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the body of the microstimulator has a length of about 6 mm to about 15 mm, and a width of about 1 mm to about 1.5 mm.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the amplitude of the stimulus is ramped from a low amplitude to a higher amplitude over the ramp period.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the amplitude of the stimulus is ramped from a high amplitude to a lower amplitude over the ramp period.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pulse width of the stimulus is ramped from a low pulse width to a higher pulse width over the ramp period.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pulse width of the stimulus is ramped from a high pulse width to a lower pulse width over the ramp period.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the ramp period is between 1 second and 15 minutes.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the ramp period is between 5 seconds and 30 seconds.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the stimulus includes a current having a pulse amplitude between about 500 μA and about 25 mA.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the stimulus has a pulse frequency between about 2 Hz and about 200 Hz.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the stimulus has a pulse width between about 50 μs and about 2700 μs.
17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the stimulus is delivered to one or more nerves that innervates lacrimal gland tissue.