METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SYNCHRONIZING NEURAL STIMULATION TO CARDIAC CYCLES
First Claim
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1. A neural stimulation system coupled to a living subject having a circulatory system, the neural stimulation system comprising:
- a stimulation output circuit to deliver neural stimulation pulses;
an implantable reference signal sensor to sense a reference signal indicative of cardiac cycles each including a predetermined type timing reference event, the implantable reference signal sensor configured for placement external to the circulatory system;
a reference event detection circuit coupled to the reference event sensor, the reference event detection circuit adapted to detect the predetermined type timing reference event; and
a stimulation control circuit coupled to the stimulation output circuit and the reference event detection circuit, the stimulation control circuit adapted to control the delivery of the neural stimulation pulses and including a synchronization module adapted to synchronize the delivery of the neural stimulation pulses to the predetermined type timing reference event.
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Abstract
The present invention comprises a neural stimulator having an output to deliver neural stimulation pulses, a sensor to sense a reference signal indicative of cardiac cycles each including a predetermined type timing reference event, the sensor being external to the circulatory system. The neural stimulator further includes detection circuitry coupled to the sensor to detect the predetermined type timing reference event, and a control circuit having an offset interval generator and a pulse delivery controller.
110 Citations
48 Claims
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1. A neural stimulation system coupled to a living subject having a circulatory system, the neural stimulation system comprising:
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a stimulation output circuit to deliver neural stimulation pulses; an implantable reference signal sensor to sense a reference signal indicative of cardiac cycles each including a predetermined type timing reference event, the implantable reference signal sensor configured for placement external to the circulatory system;
a reference event detection circuit coupled to the reference event sensor, the reference event detection circuit adapted to detect the predetermined type timing reference event; anda stimulation control circuit coupled to the stimulation output circuit and the reference event detection circuit, the stimulation control circuit adapted to control the delivery of the neural stimulation pulses and including a synchronization module adapted to synchronize the delivery of the neural stimulation pulses to the predetermined type timing reference event. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A neural stimulation system, comprising:
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a stimulation output circuit to deliver neural stimulation pulses;
one or more implantable electrodes configured to sense a subcutaneous ECG signal;a cardiac event detection circuit coupled to the one or more implantable electrodes, the cardiac event detection circuit adapted to detect predetermined type cardiac events from the subcutaneous ECG signal; and a stimulation control circuit coupled to the stimulation output circuit and the cardiac event detection circuit, the stimulation control circuit adapted to control the delivery of the neural stimulation pulses and including a synchronization module adapted to synchronize the delivery of the neural stimulation pulses to the predetermined type cardiac events. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A neural stimulation system, comprising:
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a stimulation output circuit to deliver neural stimulation pulses; an acoustic sensor to sense an acoustic signal indicative of heart sounds; a heart sound detection circuit coupled to the acoustic sensor, the heart sound detection circuit adapted to detect predetermined type heart sounds using the acoustic signal; and
a stimulation control circuit coupled to the stimulation output circuit and the heart sound detection circuit, the stimulation control circuit adapted to control the delivery of the neural stimulation pulses and including a synchronization module adapted to synchronize the delivery of the neural stimulation pulses to the predetermined type heart sounds. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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23. A neural stimulation system, comprising:
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a stimulation output circuit to deliver neural stimulation pulses; a hemodynamic sensor to sense a hemodynamic signal; a hemodynamic event detection circuit coupled to the hemodynamic sensor, the hemodynamic event detection circuit adapted to detect predetermined type hemodynamic events using the hemodynamic signal; and a stimulation control circuit coupled to the stimulation output circuit and the reference event detection circuit, the stimulation control circuit adapted to control the delivery of the neural stimulation pulses and including a synchronization module adapted to synchronize the delivery of the neural stimulation pulses to the predetermined type hemodynamic events. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method for operating a neural stimulation system coupled to a living subject having a circulatory system, the method comprising:
- sensing a reference signal indicative of cardiac cycles each including a predetermined type timing reference event using an implantable reference signal sensor placed external to the circulatory system;
detecting the predetermined type timing reference event from the reference signal; and
synchronizing a delivery of neural stimulation pulses to the detected predetermined type timing reference event. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
- sensing a reference signal indicative of cardiac cycles each including a predetermined type timing reference event using an implantable reference signal sensor placed external to the circulatory system;
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40. A neural stimulation system coupled to a living subject having a circulatory system, the neural stimulation system comprising:
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a stimulation output circuit to deliver neural stimulation pulses; an implantable reference signal sensor to sense a reference signal indicative of cardiac cycles each including a predetermined type timing reference event, the implantable reference signal sensor configured for placement external to the circulatory system; a reference event detection circuit coupled to the implantable reference signal sensor, the reference event detection circuit adapted to detect the predetermined type timing reference event; and a stimulation control circuit coupled to the stimulation output circuit and the reference event detection circuit, the stimulation control circuit including; an offset interval generator adapted to produce an offset interval starting with the predetermined type timing reference event; and a pulse delivery controller adapted to start a delivery of a burst of a plurality of neural stimulation pulses when the offset interval expires. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A neural stimulation system, comprising:
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a stimulation output circuit to deliver neural stimulation pulses; implantable electrodes configured to sense a subcutaneous ECG signal; a cardiac event detection circuit coupled to the one or more implantable electrodes, the cardiac event detection circuit adapted to detect predetermined type cardiac events from the subcutaneous ECG signal; a stimulation control circuit coupled to the stimulation output circuit and the cardiac event detection circuit, the stimulation control circuit adapted to control the delivery of the neural stimulation pulses and including a synchronization module adapted to synchronize the delivery of the neural stimulation pulses to the predetermined type cardiac events; and an implantable housing adapted to house the stimulation output circuit, the cardiac event detection circuit, and the stimulation control circuit, wherein the implantable electrodes are incorporated onto the implantable housing. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48)
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Specification