Devices and Methods for Cardiovascular Reflex Control

• US 20080215111A1
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Published: 09/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: CVRx, Inc.
• Original Assignee: CVRx, Inc.
• Inventors: Kieval, Robert S., Rossing, Martin
• Application Number:
  US11/933,218
• Publication Number:
  US 20080215111A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/44
• 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

Abstract

Devices, systems and methods are described which control blood pressure, nervous system activity, and neurohormonal activity by activating baroreceptors. By selectively and controllably activating baroreceptors, the present invention reduces excessive blood pressure, sympathetic nervous system activity and neurohormonal activity, thereby minimizing their deleterious effects on the heart, vasculature and other organs and tissues. A baroreceptor activation device is positioned near a low-pressure baroreceptor, preferably in the venous system, heart, or pulmonary vasculature.

Claims

1. A method for effecting a change in the baroreflex system of a patient, said method comprising:

implanting an electrical activation device extravascularly to surround a blood vessel wall proximate a baroreceptor on a low-pressure side of the patient'"'"'s vasculature; and

electrically activating the baroreflex activation device to effect said change in the baroreflex system.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein electrically activating the baroreflex activation device causes a reduction in at least one of systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

3. A method as in claim 1, wherein an electrode structure of the baroreceptor activation device surrounds a pulmonary artery.

4. A method as in claim 1, wherein an electrode structure of the baroreceptor activation device surrounds a vein.

5. A method as in claim 4, wherein the vein is selected from the group consisting of the inferior vena cava, the superior vena cava, the portal vein, the jugular vein, the subclavian vein, the iliac vein, and the femoral vein.

6. A method as in claim 1, wherein activating comprises continuous electrical stimulation, pulsed electrical stimulation, or periodic electrical stimulation.

7. A method as in claim 1, further comprising sensing a patient condition and initiating or modifying stimulating the baroreflex in response to the sensed patient condition.

8. A method as in claim 1, wherein activating is controlled by the patient.