Baroreflex modulation to gradually decrease blood pressure

• US 20070021796A1
• Filed: 07/07/2006
• Published: 01/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CVRx, Inc.
• Original Assignee: CVRx, Inc.
• Inventors: Kieval, Robert, Serdar, David, Burns, Matthew
• Granted Patent: US 8,060,206 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/44
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02028 Determining haemodynamic parameters not otherwise provided for, e.g. cardiac contractility or left ventricular ejection fraction
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/05 for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode A61N1/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/056 Transvascular endocardial electrode systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36053 adapted for vagal stimulation A61N1/36114 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3611 Respiration control stimulating respiratory organs A61N1/3601
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36114 Cardiac control, e.g. by vagal stimulation stimulating the heart A61N1/362
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36117 for treating hypertension
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36125 Details of circuitry or electric components
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36135 using physiological parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36185 Selection of the electrode configuration
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3702 Physiological parameters A61N1/365 takes precedence; evoked response A61N1/371

Abstract

The present invention is a baroreceptor stimulator, including, a pulse generator to provide a baroreceptor stimulation signal through an electrode and a modulator to modulate the baroreceptor stimulation signal to increase the baroreceptor stimulation therapy by a predetermined rate of change to lower systemic blood pressure to a target pressure.

Claims

1. A baroreflex stimulator, including:

a pulse generator to provide a baroreflex stimulation signal through an electrode; and

a modulator to modulate the baroreflex stimulation signal to increase the baroreflex stimulation therapy by a predetermined rate of change to lower systemic blood pressure to a target pressure.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the baroreflex signal has characteristic selected from the set of:

an amplitude, a frequency, a burst frequency and a desired morphology, and the modulator includes a modulator to modulate the chacteristic to increase the baroreflex stimulation therapy by the predetermined rate of change.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a cardiac output monitor to modify the predetermined rate of change if a monitored cardiac output is not acceptable.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a pressure detector to monitor arterial pressure and provide an arterial pressure signal, wherein the modulator receives the arterial pressure signal to modulate the baroreflex stimulation signal adjust the predetermined rate of change.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the baroreflex stimulation therapy is increased over a period selected from the set of:

two or more weeks and two or more months.

6. An implantable medical system, comprising:

means for applying baroreflex stimulation to a pressoreceptive region to lower systemic blood pressure; and

means for increasing the baroreflex stimulation therapy by a predetermined rate of change to lower systemic blood pressure to a target pressure.

7. A method for operating an implantable medical device, comprising:

applying a baroreflex stimulation therapy using a baroreflex stimulator in the implantable medical device; and

increasing the baroreflex stimulation therapy by a predetermined rate of change to lower systemic blood pressure to a target pressure.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein increasing the baroreflex stimulation therapy by a predetermined rate of change to lower systemic blood pressure to a target pressure includes:

implementing a process to control the predetermined rate of change for increasing the baroreflex stimulation; and

modifying the predetermined rate of change if cardiac output is not acceptable.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein increasing the baroreflex stimulation therapy by a predetermined rate of change includes modulating a characteristic of the baroreflex stimulation signal selected from the group consisting of:

an amplitude, a frequency, a pulse frequency and a morphology.

10. A baroreceptor stimulator, including:

a pulse generator to provide a baroreceptor stimulation signal through an electrode; and

a modulator to modulate the baroreceptor stimulation signal to increase the baroreceptor stimulation therapy by a predetermined rate of change to lower systemic blood pressure to a target pressure.

11. An implantable medical system, comprising:

means for applying baroreceptor stimulation to a baroreceptive region to lower systemic blood pressure; and

means for increasing the baroreceptor stimulation therapy by a predetermined rate of change to lower systemic blood pressure to a target pressure.

12. A method for operating an implantable medical device, comprising:

applying a baroreceptor stimulation therapy using a baroreceptor stimulator in the implantable medical device; and

increasing the baroreceptor stimulation therapy by a predetermined rate of change to lower systemic blood pressure to a target pressure.

13. A method, comprising:

applying a baroreceptor stimulation therapy to a baroreceptor site using a lead extending into an artery; and

implementing a process to increase the baroreflex stimulation therapy by a predetermined rate of change until a systemic blood pressure is lowered to a target level.