BAROREFLEX STIMULATOR WITH INTEGRATED PRESSURE SENSOR

• US 20110106216A1
• Filed: 01/10/2011
• Published: 05/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Imad Libbus, Rodney W. Salo
• Original Assignee: Imad Libbus, Rodney W. Salo
• Inventors: Salo, Rodney W., Libbus, Imad
• Application Number:
  US12/987,689
• Publication Number:
  US 20110106216A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/62
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36057 adapted for stimulating afferent nerves
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36117 for treating hypertension
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36564 controlled by blood pressure

Abstract

An aspect relates to an implantable medical device. An embodiment of the device comprises a pulse generator, sensor circuitry, a lead, and a controller. The pulse generator generates baroreflex stimulation pulses. The lead is adapted to be electrically connected to the pulse generator and to the sensor circuitry. The lead includes an electrode to distribute the baroreflex stimulation pulses to a baroreflex site and a pressure sensor to provide a signal indicative of blood pressure to the sensor circuitry. The controller is connected to the pulse generator and the sensor circuitry. The controller adapted to adjust the baroreflex stimulation pulses based on the blood pressure. Other aspects are provided herein.

Claims

1. An implantable medical device, comprising:

means for delivering baroreflex therapy to a baroreceptor site ;

means for monitoring blood pressure near the baroreceptor site using a pressure sensor ; and

means for adjusting the baroreflex therapy based on the blood pressure, wherein means for monitoring blood pressure near the baroreceptor site using a pressure sensor includes a wireless device adapted to be positioned within a pulmonary artery, the wireless device includes means for wirelessly communicating with another device.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the wireless device further includes means for stimulating local baroreceptors.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the means for wirelessly communicating with another device includes means for wirelessly communicating with another implantable device.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the means for wirelessly communicating with another device includes means for wirelessly communicating with an external device.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the means for wirelessly communicating with another device includes means for ultrasonically communicating with another device.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the means for wirelessly communicating with another device includes means for electromagnetically communicating with another device.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein:

means for delivering baroreflex therapy to a baroreceptor site includes means for delivering baroreflex therapy to a baroreceptor site in a cardiac fat pad using an electrode in a blood vessel proximate to the cardiac fat pad; and

means for monitoring blood pressure near the baroreceptor site using a pressure sensor includes means for monitoring blood pressure in the blood vessel proximate to the cardiac fat pad.

8. An implantable medical device, comprising:

a pulse generator to generate baroreflex stimulation pulses;

a sensor circuitry;

a lead configured to be electrically connected to the pulse generator and to the sensor circuitry, the lead including an electrode configured to distribute the baroreflex stimulation pulses to a baroreflex site and a sensor configured to provide a signal to the sensor circuitry that corresponds to a pre-ejection period measured between a sensed electrical event in a ventricle and onset of ventricular ejection derived from a pulmonary arterial blood pressure sensor; and

a controller connected to the pulse generator and the sensor circuitry, the controller adapted to adjust the baroreflex stimulation pulses based on the blood pressure.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the sensed electrical event in a ventricle includes a sensed electrical event in a right ventricle.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein the sensed electrical event in a ventricle includes a sensed electrical event in a left ventricle.

11. The device of claim 8, wherein the controller is adapted to modulate an amplitude of the baroreflex stimulation pulses based on the pre-ejection period.

12. The device of claim 8, wherein the controller is adapted to modulate a frequency of the baroreflex stimulation pulses based on the pre-ejection period.

13. The device of claim 8, wherein the controller is adapted to modulate a pulse frequency of the baroreflex stimulation pulses based on the pre-ejection period.

14. The device of claim 8, wherein the controller is adapted to change a morphology of the baroreflex stimulation pulses based on the pre-ejection period.

15. The device of claim 8, wherein the controller is adapted to modulate two or more characteristics selected from a group of characteristics consisting of an amplitude, a frequency, and a pulse frequency.

16. An implantable medical device, comprising:

a pulse generator configured to generate baroreflex stimulation pulses;

a sensor circuitry configured to sense cardiac output or sympathetic tone;

a lead adapted to be electrically connected to the pulse generator and to the sensor circuitry, the lead including an electrode to distribute the baroreflex stimulation pulses to a baroreflex site; and

a controller connected to the pulse generator and the sensor circuitry, the controller configured to provide the baroreflex stimulation pulses during application of post myocardial infarction regional unloading therapy to moderate an associated increase in sympathetic tone accompanying a decrease in global cardiac function, and to adjust the baroreflex stimulation pulses to maintain a desired parameter in a desired range during the application of unloading therapy for remodeling control.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the desired parameter includes a cardiac output parameter.

18. The device of claim 16, wherein the desired parameter includes a sympathetic tone parameter.

19. The device of claim 16, wherein the controller is configured to modulate an amplitude of the baroreflex stimulation pulses based on the desired parameter.

20. The device of claim 16, wherein the controller is configured to modulate a frequency of the baroreflex stimulation pulses based on the desired parameter.

21. The device of claim 16, wherein the controller is configured to modulate a pulse frequency of the baroreflex stimulation pulses based on the desired parameter.

22. The device of claim 16, wherein the controller is configured to change a morphology of the baroreflex stimulation pulses based on the desired parameter.

23. The device of claim 16, wherein the controller is configured to modulate two or more characteristics selected from a group of characteristics consisting of an amplitude, a frequency, and a pulse frequency.