MYOCARDIUM CONDITIONING USING MYOCARDIAL AND PARASYMPATHETIC STIMULATION

• US 20070260284A1
• Filed: 05/02/2006
• Published: 11/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Spinelli, Julio, Pastore, Joseph, Salo, Rodney, Ross, Jeffrey, Kramer, Andrew, Baynham, Tamara
• Granted Patent: US 7,689,286 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/9
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36114 Cardiac control, e.g. by vagal stimulation stimulating the heart A61N1/362
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3627 for treating a mechanical deficiency of the heart, e.g. congestive heart failure or cardiomyopathy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37211 Means for communicating with stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3956 Implantable devices for applying electric shocks to the heart, e.g. for cardioversion

Abstract

Various system embodiments comprise a neural stimulator, a pulse generator, and a controller. The neural stimulator is adapted to generate a neural stimulation signal. The pulse generator is adapted to generate a pacing signal to provide myocardium pacing. The controller is adapted to control the neural stimulator and the pulse generator to provide a cardioprotective conditioning therapy. The conditioning therapy includes neural stimulation to elicit a parasympathetic response and myocardium pacing. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a neural stimulator adapted to generate a neural stimulation signal;

a pulse generator adapted to generate a pacing signal to provide myocardium pacing; and

a controller adapted to control the neural stimulator and the pulse generator to provide a cardioprotective conditioning therapy, the conditioning therapy including neural stimulation to elicit a parasympathetic response and myocardium pacing.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising an ischemia detector to detect an ischemia event, wherein the controller is adapted to provide the conditioning therapy in response to a signal from the ischemia detector indicative of the ischemia event.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the neural stimulator and the pulse generator are integrated in a single pulse generator circuit.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the neural stimulator and the pulse generator are distinct.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the conditioning therapy includes a therapeutic postconditioning therapy for a detected ischemia event.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the conditioning therapy includes a prophylactic preconditioning therapy for an anticipated ischemia event.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising an ischemia detector to detect an ischemia event, wherein the controller is adapted to provide a therapeutic postconditioning therapy for a detected ischemia event in response to a signal from the ischemia detector indicative of the detected ischemia event, and then provide a prophylactic preconditioning therapy for an anticipated ischemia event after the detected ischemia event.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is adapted to control the neural stimulator and the pulse generator to independently provide the neural stimulation and the myocardium pacing.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is adapted to control the neural stimulator and the pulse generator to integrate the delivery of the neural stimulation and the delivery of the myocardium pacing.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the controller is adapted to control the neural stimulator and the pulse generator to prevent the simultaneous delivery of the neural stimulation and the myocardium pacing.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the controller is adapted to control the neural stimulator and the pulse generator to coordinate the simultaneous delivery of the neural stimulation and the myocardium pacing.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one electrode adapted to stimulate a vagus nerve.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprising an intravascularly-fed lead connecting the at least one electrode to the neural stimulator, the lead and the at least one electrode being adapted for positioning of the at least one electrode in an internal jugular vein to transvascularly stimulate the vagus nerve.

14. The system of claim 1, further comprising a subcutaneously-fed lead connected to the at least one electrode to the neural stimulator, the at least one electrode including a nerve cuff electrode adapted to stimulate the vagus nerve.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller, the neural stimulator and the pulse generator are incorporated in a single implantable medical device.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the neural stimulator is incorporated in an implantable neural stimulator and the pulse generator is incorporated in a cardiac rhythm management (CRM) device.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is adapted to control the pulse generator to provide myocardium pacing at regular intervals.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is adapted to control the neural stimulator to provide neural stimulation for approximately ten seconds every minute.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is adapted to control the neural stimulator to provide neural stimulation to stimulate parasympathetic nerve traffic.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is adapted to control the neural stimulator to provide neural stimulation to inhibit sympathetic nerve traffic.

21. A system, comprising:

means for providing cardioprotective therapy to treat heart disease, including means for providing cardioprotective pacing therapy and means for providing cardioprotective neural stimulation therapy to elicit a parasympathetic response.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the means for providing cardioprotective therapy includes means for providing therapeutic postconditioning therapy after an ischemic event.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the means for providing cardioprotective therapy includes means for providing prophylactic preconditioning therapy in anticipation of an ischemic event.

24. The system of claim 21, further comprising means for detecting an ischemia event, and means for providing the cardioprotective therapy in response to the detected ischemia event.

25. A method, comprising:

providing cardioprotective therapy to treat heart disease, including providing cardioprotective pacing therapy and providing cardioprotective neural stimulation therapy to elicit a parasympathetic response.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein providing cardioprotective therapy includes providing therapeutic postconditioning therapy after an ischemic event.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein providing cardioprotective therapy includes providing prophylactic preconditioning therapy in anticipation of an ischemic event.

28. The method of claim 25, further comprising detecting an ischemia event, and providing the cardioprotective therapy in response to the detected ischemia event.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein providing cardioprotective neural stimulation therapy includes providing vagus nerve stimulation.

30. The method of claim 25, wherein providing cardioprotective neural stimulation therapy includes providing neural stimulation to a vagus nerve branch.

31. The method of claim 25, wherein providing cardioprotective neural stimulation therapy includes providing neural stimulation to a cardiac fat pad.

32. The method of claim 25, wherein providing cardioprotective neural stimulation therapy includes providing neural stimulation therapy to stimulate parasympathetic nerve traffic.

33. The method of claim 25, wherein providing cardioprotective neural stimulation therapy includes providing neural stimulation therapy to inhibit sympathetic nerve traffic.