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Methods and apparatus to increase secretion of endogenous naturetic hormones

  • US 10,369,333 B2
  • Filed: 06/05/2017
  • Issued: 08/06/2019
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2005
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method for treating a patient comprising:

  • determining that the patient is suffering from a condition comprising one or more of hypertension, excessive fluid retention, or excessive sodium retention;

    treating the condition by stressing a wall of at least one atrium of a heart of the patient beyond a natural stress condition of the wall, such that the stressed wall secretes a hormone at an elevated level above a natural secretion level occurring naturally when the wall of the at least one atrium is not stressed by the stressing,wherein stressing the wall of the at least one atrium of the heart comprises stretching the at least one atrium; and

    achieving a beneficial therapeutic effect in the patient by the hormone secreted at the elevated level, wherein the beneficial therapeutic effect includes a reduction in blood pressure,wherein stretching the at least one atrium comprises expanding and contracting an expandable device implanted in an atrial appendage of the heart, andwherein expanding and contracting the expandable device comprises using an implanted pump connected to the expandable device to bidirectionally shuttle fluid in a closed system between the expandable device and the implanted pump.

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