Regulation of excitable tissue control of the heart based on physiological input
First Claim
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1. A method for modifying contractility of the heart of a patient, comprising:
- receiving signals from a sensor coupled to the body of the patient indicative of physiological activity;
analyzing the signals to derive a measure of the physiological activity; and
applying excitable tissue control (ETC) stimulation to the heart so as to enhance contractility of the heart muscle responsive to the measure, wherein applying the stimulation comprises assessing the measure so as to determine in which of a plurality of predetermined ranges the measure falls, and varying the application of the ETC stimulation dependent on the range, wherein assessing the measure comprises associating one or more of the ranges with respective types of physical activity undertaken by the patient, and wherein varying the application comprises adapting the stimulation to a demand level associated with the physical activity, and wherein adapting the stimulation comprises increasing the stimulation responsive to an increasing demand level.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus (30) for modifying contractility of the heart of a patient. The method includes receiving signals from a sensor (22, 23, 46) coupled to the body of the patient indicative of physiological activity. The signals are analyzed to derive a measure of the physiological activity, and excitable tissue control (ETC) stimulation is applied to the heart (20) so as to enhance contractility of the heart muscle responsive to the measure.
66 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A method for modifying contractility of the heart of a patient, comprising:
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receiving signals from a sensor coupled to the body of the patient indicative of physiological activity;
analyzing the signals to derive a measure of the physiological activity; and
applying excitable tissue control (ETC) stimulation to the heart so as to enhance contractility of the heart muscle responsive to the measure, wherein applying the stimulation comprises assessing the measure so as to determine in which of a plurality of predetermined ranges the measure falls, and varying the application of the ETC stimulation dependent on the range, wherein assessing the measure comprises associating one or more of the ranges with respective types of physical activity undertaken by the patient, and wherein varying the application comprises adapting the stimulation to a demand level associated with the physical activity, and wherein adapting the stimulation comprises increasing the stimulation responsive to an increasing demand level.
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2. A method for modifying contractility of the heart of a patient, comprising:
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receiving signals from a sensor coupled to the body of the patient indicative of physiological activity;
analyzing the signals to derive a measure of the physiological activity; and
applying excitable tissue control (ETC) stimulation to the heart so as to enhance contractility of the heart muscle responsive to the measure, wherein applying the stimulation comprises assessing the measure so as to determine in which of a plurality of predetermined ranges the measure falls, and varying the application of the ETC stimulation dependent on the range, wherein assessing the measure comprises associating one or more of the ranges with respective types of physical activity undertaken by the patient, and wherein varying the application comprises adapting the stimulation to a demand level associated with the physical activity, and wherein adapting the stimulation comprises decreasing the stimulation responsive to an increasing demand level.
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3. A method for modifying contractility of the heart of a patient, comprising:
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receiving signals from a sensor coupled to the body of the patient indicative of physiological activity;
analyzing the signals to derive a measure of the physiological activity; and
applying excitable tissue control (ETC) stimulation to the heart so as to enhance contractility of the heart muscle responsive to the measure, wherein analyzing the signals comprises deriving a measure of hemodynamic stress.
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4. Apparatus for stimulating cardiac tissue in the body of a patient, comprising:
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at least one sensor, coupled to the body which generates signals indicative of physiological activity;
one or more stimulation electrodes, which are placed in contact with the heart; and
an electrical control unit, which receives and analyzes the signals from the sensor so as to derive a measure of the physiological activity and which applies an excitable tissue control (ETC) signals to the stimulation electrodes so as to enhance contractility of the heart muscle responsive to the measure, wherein the control unit assigns the measure to one of a plurality of predetermined ranges and varies the application of the ETC signals dependent on the range, wherein the control unit holds off application of the signal when the measure is outside a range between predetermined lower and upper thresholds.
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5. Apparatus for stimulating cardiac tissue in the body of a patient, comprising:
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at least one sensor, coupled to the body which generates signals indicative of physiological activity;
one or more stimulation electrodes, which are placed in contact with the heart; and
an electrical control unit, which receives and analyzes the signals from the sensor so as to derive a measure of the physiological activity and which applies an excitable tissue control (ETC) signals to the stimulation electrodes so as to enhance contractility of the heart muscle responsive to the measure, wherein the control unit assigns the measure to one of a plurality of predetermined ranges and varies the application of the ETC signals dependent on the range, wherein one or more of the ranges are associated with respective types of physical activity undertaken by the patient, and the control unit adapts the stimulation to a demand level associated with the physical activity, wherein the control unit increases the stimulation responsive to an increasing demand level.
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6. Apparatus for stimulating cardiac tissue in the body of a patient, comprising:
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at least one sensor, coupled to the body which generates signals indicative of physiological activity;
one or more stimulation electrodes, which are placed in contact with the heart; and
an electrical control unit, which receives and analyzes the signals from the sensor so as to derive a measure of the physiological activity and which applies an excitable tissue control (ETC) signals to the stimulation electrodes so as to enhance contractility of the heart muscle responsive to the measure, wherein the control unit assigns the measure to one of a plurality of predetermined ranges and varies the application of the ETC signals dependent on the range, wherein one or more of the ranges are associated with respective types of physical activity undertaken by the patient, and the control unit adapts the stimulation to a demand level associated with the physical activity, and wherein the control unit decreases the stimulation responsive to an increasing demand level.
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7. Apparatus for stimulating cardiac tissue in the body of a patient, comprising:
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at least one sensor, coupled to the body which generates signals indicative of physiological activity;
one or more stimulation electrodes, which are placed in contact with the heart; and
an electrical control unit, which receives and analyzes the signals from the sensor so as to derive a measure of the physiological activity and which applies an excitable tissue control (ETC) signals to the stimulation electrodes so as to enhance contractility of the heart muscle responsive to the measure, wherein the measure comprises a measure of hemodynamic stress.
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8. A method for cardiac rehabilitation therapy, comprising:
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receiving signals from a sensor coupled to the body of a patient indicative of physiological activity;
analyzing the signals to derive a measure of the physiological activity, the measure having a range of values;
associating the values of the measure with levels of physical activity undertaken by the patient; and
applying electrical stimulation to the heart so as to induce muscular exertion thereof responsive to the level, such that over at least a part of the range, the stimulation is adjusted to reduce the muscular exertion of the heart responsive to an increase in the level of activity, wherein applying the stimulation comprises inducing exertion of the heart while the patient is at rest and reducing the exertion when the patient is active.
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9. A method for cardiac rehabilitation therapy, comprising:
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receiving signals from a sensor coupled to the body of a patient indicative of physiological activity;
analyzing the signals to derive a measure of the physiological activity, the measure having a range of values;
associating the values of the measure with levels of physical activity undertaken by the patient; and
applying electrical stimulation to the heart so as to induce muscular exertion thereof responsive to the level, such that over at least a part of the range, the stimulation is adjusted to reduce the muscular exertion of the heart responsive to an increase in the level of activity, wherein applying the stimulation comprises applying excitable tissue control (ETC) stimulation to the heart so as to enhance contractility of the heart muscle.
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Specification