BAROREFLEX STIMULATION SYNCHRONIZED TO CIRCADIAN RHYTHM

• US 20100185255A1
• Filed: 03/30/2010
• Published: 07/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Imad Libbus
• Original Assignee: Imad Libbus
• Inventors: Libbus, Imad
• Granted Patent: US 8,131,373 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/44
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3601 of respiratory organs
• 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 1/3614 based on impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36564 controlled by blood pressure

Abstract

An aspect relates to a baroreflex stimulator. An embodiment of the stimulator comprises a pulse generator to provide a baroreflex stimulation signal through an electrode, and a modulator to modulate the baroreflex stimulation signal based on a circadian rhythm template.

Claims

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

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

modulating the baroreflex stimulation therapy based on a circadian rhythm template stored within the implantable medical device, wherein modulating the baroreflex stimulation therapy includes using the circadian rhythm template to change the stimulation intensity to mimic natural blood pressure fluctuations during the day.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein modulating the baroreflex stimulation therapy includes modulating an amplitude of the baroreflex stimulation signal based on the circadian rhythm template

3. The method of claim 1, wherein modulating the baroreflex stimulation therapy includes modulating a frequency of the baroreflex stimulation signal based on the circadian rhythm template.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein modulating the baroreflex stimulation therapy includes modulating a burst frequency of the baroreflex stimulation signal based on the circadian rhythm template.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein modulating the baroreflex stimulation therapy includes changing a waveform of the baroreflex stimulation signal based on the circadian rhythm template.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the circadian rhythm template is a pre-programmed circadian rhythm template.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sensing and recording parameters related to hypertension; and

generating a patient-specific circadian rhythm template based on the recorded parameters, wherein the baroreflex stimulation therapy is modulated based on the patient-specific circadian rhythm template.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the circadian rhythm template includes a mean arterial pressure template.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the circadian rhythm template includes a heart rate template.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the circadian rhythm template includes a stroke volume template.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the circadian rhythm template includes a cardiac output template.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the circadian rhythm template includes a total peripheral resistance template.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising delivering baroreflex stimulation through a lead adapted to be fed through a right ventricle and pulmonary valve into a pulmonary artery.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein applying baroreflex therapy includes transvascularly stimulating an afferent nerve.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein applying baroreflex therapy includes stimulating an afferent nerve using a nerve cuff.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein applying baroreflex therapy includes stimulating a baroreceptor in a vessel wall.

17. A method for treating hypertension, comprising:

accessing a circadian rhythm template;

setting a baroreflex stimulation level based on the circadian rhythm template; and

applying baroreflex stimulation at the baroreflex stimulation level to a baroreceptor site in a pulmonary artery.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein accessing a circadian rhythm template includes accessing a pre-programmed circadian rhythm template.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein:

accessing a circadian rhythm template includes;

sensing and recording parameters related to hypertension; and

generating a patient-specific circadian rhythm template based on the recorded parameters; and

setting a baroreflex stimulation level based on the circadian rhythm template includes setting a baroreflex stimulation level based on the patient-specific circadian rhythm template.

20. A baroreflex stimulator, comprising:

a pulse generator adapted to deliver a baroreflex stimulation therapy using a baroreflex stimulation signal; and

means for modulating the baroreflex stimulation signal based on a circadian rhythm template to mimic natural blood pressure fluctuations during the day, wherein the circadian rhythm template includes a mean arterial pressure template, a stroke volume template,

a cardiac output template, or a total peripheral resistance template.