Stimulation of autonomic nerves
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for delivering power to an electrode for stimulating an autonomic nerve to affect heart activity, comprising:
- delivering power to the electrode at a power level;
determining whether the delivering achieved an autonomic response that affected cardiac contractility; and
delivering power to the electrode at a reduced power level if the delivering achieved an autonomic response that affected the cardiac contractility.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An exemplary method for stimulating an autonomic nerve that includes delivering power to, for example, an electrode at a set power level, determining whether the delivering achieved an autonomic response that affected cardiac function, and delivering power to the electrode at a reduced power level if the delivering affected the cardiac function. An exemplary device for performing such an exemplary method. Other exemplary methods and exemplary devices are also disclosed.
286 Citations
36 Claims
-
1. A method for delivering power to an electrode for stimulating an autonomic nerve to affect heart activity, comprising:
-
delivering power to the electrode at a power level; determining whether the delivering achieved an autonomic response that affected cardiac contractility; and delivering power to the electrode at a reduced power level if the delivering achieved an autonomic response that affected the cardiac contractility. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. One or more computer-readable media having computer-readable instructions thereon which, when executed by a programmable stimulation device, causes a stimulation device to deliver power to an electrode for stimulating an autonomic nerve to affect heart activity, said instructions including code for:
-
delivering power to the electrode at a power level; determining whether the delivering achieved an autonomic response that affected cardiac contractility; and delivering power to the electrode at a reduced power level if the delivering achieved an autonomic response that affected the cardiac contractility.
-
-
15. A method for delivering power to an electrode for stimulating an autonomic nerve to affect cardiac function, comprising:
-
delivering power to the electrode at a pulse width and at a frequency; determining whether the delivering caused an undesirable evoked response; and delivering power to the electrode at a reduced pulse width and at an increased frequency if the delivering caused an undesirable evoked response. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. One or more computer-readable media having computer-readable instructions thereon which, when executed by a programmable stimulation device, causes a stimulation device to deliver power to an electrode for stimulating an autonomic nerve to affect cardiac function, said instructions including code for:
-
delivering power to the electrode at a pulse width and a frequency; determining whether the delivering caused an undesirable evoked response; and delivering power to the electrode at a reduced pulse width and at an increased frequency if the delivering caused an undesirable evoked response.
-
-
20. An implantable stimulation device for stimulating an autonomic nerve to affect cardiac function, comprising:
-
an electrode configured to deliver a stimulation pulse to an autonomic nerve at a power level; a sensor configured to acquire data on cardiac contractility in response to the stimulation pulse; a controller configured to reduce the power level to a reduced power level if the cardiac contractility changed in response to the stimulation pulse. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
-
-
26. A method for positioning an electrode comprising:
-
delivering power to the electrode at a power level; determining whether the delivering affected cardiac function due to stimulation of an autonomic nerve; and repositioning the electrode if the delivering did not affect the cardiac function or delivering power to the electrode at a reduced power level if the delivering affected the cardiac function.
-
-
27. A method for selecting an electrode comprising:
-
delivering power to the electrode at a power level; determining whether the delivering affected cardiac function due to stimulation of an autonomic nerve; and selecting another electrode if the delivering did not affect the cardiac function or delivering power to the electrode at a reduced power level if the delivering affected the cardiac function.
-
-
28. An implantable stimulation device for stimulating an autonomic nerve to affect cardiac function, comprising:
-
electrode means for delivering a stimulation pulse to an autonomic nerve at a maximum power level based at least in part on power limitations or battery life of the implantable stimulation device; sensor means for acquiring data on cardiac function in response to the stimulation pulse; controller means for reducing the power level to a reduced power level if the cardiac function changed in response to the stimulation pulse. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
-
Specification