Method and apparatus for the prevention of arrhythmia by nerve stimulation
First Claim
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1. An implantable apparatus for combating heart arrhythmia in a subject, comprising:
- means for monitoring a ratio of sympathetic nerve activity to parasympathetic nerve activity in said subject;
detection means for detecting a high risk of arrhythmia in said subject based on said ratio of sympathetic nerve activity to parasympathetic nerve activity; and
an electrical stimulator operably associated with said detection means and responsive to said detection means for stimulating afferent nerves in said subject upon detection of a high risk of arrhythmia.
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Abstract
Arrhythmia is prevented by detecting a high risk of arrhythmia and then stimulating afferent nerves to prevent the arrhythmia. By monitoring the sympathetic and parasympathetic nerve activity of a patient the risk of arrhythmia may be assessed. An apparatus for monitoring of parasympathetic and sympathetic nerve activity and stimulating the afferent nerves may be implanted in a patient. Furthermore, the apparatus and method for the prevention of arrhythmia may be combined with apparatus for the treatment of arrhythmia through electric shock to facilitate treatment and prevent reoccurrence of arrhythmia.
421 Citations
16 Claims
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1. An implantable apparatus for combating heart arrhythmia in a subject, comprising:
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means for monitoring a ratio of sympathetic nerve activity to parasympathetic nerve activity in said subject; detection means for detecting a high risk of arrhythmia in said subject based on said ratio of sympathetic nerve activity to parasympathetic nerve activity; and an electrical stimulator operably associated with said detection means and responsive to said detection means for stimulating afferent nerves in said subject upon detection of a high risk of arrhythmia. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of combating heart arrhythmia in a subject comprising:
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monitoring a ratio of sympathetic nerve activity to parasympathetic nerve activity in said subject; detecting a high risk of arrhythmia in said subject based on the ratio of sympathetic and parasympathetic nerve activity; and stimulating afferent nerves in said subject upon detection of a high risk of arrhythmia. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An implantable apparatus for combating heart arrhythmia in a subject, comprising:
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(a) monitoring means for monitoring sympathetic nerve activity and parasympathetic nerve activity, wherein said monitoring means monitors a ratio of said sympathetic nerve activity to said parasympathetic nerve activity, said monitoring means comprising; first monitoring means for monitoring sympathetic nerve activity in said subject; second monitoring means for monitoring parasympathetic nerve activity in said subject; comparing means connected to said first and second monitoring means for comparing the ratio of sympathetic nerve activity to parasympathetic nerve activity; (b) detection means for detecting a high risk of arrhythmia in said subject based on the ratio of nerve activity; and (c) an electrical stimulator operably associated with said subject and said detection means and responsive to said detection means for stimulating afferent nerves in said subject upon detection of a high risk of arrhythmia.
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16. A method of combating heart arrhythmia in a subject, comprising:
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(a) monitoring the sympathetic nerve activity in said subject; (b) monitoring the parasympathetic nerve activity in said subject; (c) comparing said sympathetic nerve activity to said parasympathetic nerve activity to provide a ratio of said sympathetic nerve activity to said parasympathetic activity; (d) detecting a high risk of arrhythmia in said subject based on the ratio of sympathetic and parasympathetic nerve activity; and (e) stimulating afferent nerves in said subject upon detection of a high risk of arrhythmia.
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Specification