Method and apparatus using vagal stimulation for control of ventricular rate during atrial fibrillation
First Claim
1. An apparatus for automatically controlling ventricular rate by vagal stimulation to minimize pulse deficit during atrial fibrillation, comprising:
- stimulating means for stimulating a vagal nerve at a variable stimulation frequency;
means for detecting a ventricular excitation rate;
means for detecting an arterial pulse rate;
processing means for comparing said ventricular excitation rate and said arterial pulse rate and automatically adjusting said vagal stimulation frequency as a function of the difference between said ventricular excitation rate and said arterial pulse rate.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A closed-loop variable frequency vagal stimulation apparatus for control of ventricular rate during atrial fibrillation. In one embodiment the apparatus includes a stimulator applied to the left vagus nerve and a proportional controller programmed to automatically and continuously adjust the vagal stimulation frequency proportionally as a function of the difference between actual and desired ventricular excitation rates. In a second embodiment the apparatus includes a vagal nerve stimulator and a controller which automatically adjusts the vagal stimulation frequency as a function of the difference between ventricular excitation rate and arterial pulse rate in order to eliminate or minimize pulse deficit.
518 Citations
5 Claims
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1. An apparatus for automatically controlling ventricular rate by vagal stimulation to minimize pulse deficit during atrial fibrillation, comprising:
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stimulating means for stimulating a vagal nerve at a variable stimulation frequency; means for detecting a ventricular excitation rate; means for detecting an arterial pulse rate; processing means for comparing said ventricular excitation rate and said arterial pulse rate and automatically adjusting said vagal stimulation frequency as a function of the difference between said ventricular excitation rate and said arterial pulse rate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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Specification