Neural stimulation therapy system for atherosclerotic plaques
First Claim
1. A medical device, comprising:
- at least one neural stimulation electrode adapted to be placed proximate to a site of atherosclerosis to enable stimulation of the site of atherosclerosis or stimulation of a peripheral neural pathway that is proximate to and that innervates the site of atherosclerosis;
a neural stimulator adapted to deliver an electrical signal through the at least one electrode to stimulate the site of atherosclerosis or to stimulate the peripheral neural pathway proximate to the site of atherosclerosis to provide local therapy that reduces an inflammatory response at the site of atherosclerosis; and
a programmed controller, wherein the controller is programmed with a therapy for atherosclerotic plaques to control the neural stimulator to intermittently deliver stimulation through the electrode to provide local therapy that reduces the inflammatory response at the site of the atherosclerosis andto prevent plaque formation and promote stability of existing plaque.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A neural stimulation therapy system for atherosclerotic plaques is provided. One aspect of this disclosure relates to a medical device for applying neural stimulation therapy for atherosclerotic plaques. The device includes a neural stimulator adapted to deliver an electrical signal through at least one electrode to an autonomic neural target. The device also includes a controller to control the neural stimulator to provide a therapy for atherosclerotic plaques. The device is external to a human body in an embodiment, and includes an implantable medical device (IMD) in various embodiments. According to an embodiment, the device includes a neural stimulation lead connected to the neural stimulator. The neural stimulator delivers electrical signals with waveform parameters based on sensed arterial blockage levels, according to various embodiments. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein.
103 Citations
43 Claims
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1. A medical device, comprising:
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at least one neural stimulation electrode adapted to be placed proximate to a site of atherosclerosis to enable stimulation of the site of atherosclerosis or stimulation of a peripheral neural pathway that is proximate to and that innervates the site of atherosclerosis; a neural stimulator adapted to deliver an electrical signal through the at least one electrode to stimulate the site of atherosclerosis or to stimulate the peripheral neural pathway proximate to the site of atherosclerosis to provide local therapy that reduces an inflammatory response at the site of atherosclerosis; and a programmed controller, wherein the controller is programmed with a therapy for atherosclerotic plaques to control the neural stimulator to intermittently deliver stimulation through the electrode to provide local therapy that reduces the inflammatory response at the site of the atherosclerosis and to prevent plaque formation and promote stability of existing plaque. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A medical device, comprising:
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a sensing circuit to receive sensed signals representative of blood flow in a vessel to determine extent of blockage at a site of atherosclerosis; at least one neural stimulation electrode adapted to be placed proximate to the site of atherosclerosis to enable stimulation of the site of atherosclerosis or stimulation of a peripheral neural pathway that is proximate to and that innervates the site of atherosclerosis; a neural stimulator adapted to deliver an electrical signal through the at least one electrode to stimulate the site of atherosclerosis or to stimulate the peripheral neural pathway proximate to the site of atherosclerosis to provide local therapy that reduces an inflammatory response at the site of atherosclerosis; and a programmed controller to communicate with the sensing circuit, wherein the controller is programmed with a therapy for atherosclerotic plagues to control the neural stimulator to intermittently deliver stimulation through the electrode to provide local therapy that reduces the inflammatory response at the site of atherosclerosis and to prevent plaque formation and promote stability of existing plaque, the controller adapted to control delivery of the electrical signal with waveform parameters modulated based on the determined extent of blockage. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system, comprising:
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at least one neural stimulation lead having a proximal portion and a distal portion; a plurality of electrodes along the distal portion of the at least one lead, at least one of the plurality of electrodes adapted to be placed proximate to a site of atherosclerosis to enable stimulation of the site of atherosclerosis or stimulation of a peripheral neural pathway that is proximate to and that innervates the site of atherosclerosis; and a medical device coupled to the proximal portion of the at least one lead, the medical device including; a neural stimulator adapted to deliver an electrical signal through the at least one electrode to stimulate the site of atherosclerosis or to stimulate the peripheral neural pathway proximate to the site of atherosclerosis to provide local therapy that reduces an inflammatory response at the site of atherosclerosis; and a programmed controller, wherein the controller is programmed with a therapy for atherosclerotic plagues to control the neural stimulator to intermittently deliver stimulation through the electrode to provide local therapy that reduces the inflammatory response at the site of the atherosclerosis and to prevent plaque formation and promote stability of existing plaque. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A system, comprising:
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means for monitoring blood pressure in a vessel to determine extent of blockage; and means for applying neural stimulation based on the extent of blockage, the stimulation adapted to reduce inflammatory response to a site of atherosclerosis to provide a therapy for atherosclerotic plaques; wherein the means for applying neural stimulation is adapted to intermittently stimulate a peripheral neural pathway that innervates the site of atherosclerosis to prevent plaque formation and promote stability of existing plaque. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method, comprising:
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monitoring blood flow in a vessel to determine extent of blockage; placing a neural stimulation lead in proximity to a site of atherosclerosis; applying neural stimulation using an electrical signal with waveform parameters modulated based on the determined extent of blockage, the stimulation adapted to reduce inflammatory response to the site of atherosclerosis to provide a therapy for atherosclerotic plaques; and preventing plaque formation and promoting stability of existing plaque by applying neural stimulation including stimulating a peripheral neural pathway that innervates the site of atherosclerosis. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A method, comprising:
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monitoring blood flow in a vessel to determine extent of blockage; applying neural stimulation based on the extent of blockage, the stimulation adapted to provide a therapy for atherosclerotic plaques, including reducing inflammatory response to a site of atherosclerosis; applying cardiac preconditioning therapy in conjunction with neural stimulation therapy; and wherein the cardiac preconditioning therapy is applied when the extent of blockage reaches a predefined threshold.
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41. A method, comprising:
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monitoring blood flow in a vessel to determine extent of blockage; applying neural stimulation based on the extent of blockage, the stimulation adapted to provide a therapy for atherosclerotic plaques, including reducing inflammatory response to a site of atherosclerosis; applying cardiac postconditioning therapy in conjunction with neural stimulation therapy; and wherein the cardiac postconditioning therapy is applied when the extent of blockage reaches a predefined threshold.
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42. A medical device, comprising:
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a sensing circuit to receive sensed signals representative of blood flow in a vessel to determine extent of blockage; a neural stimulator adapted to deliver an electrical signal through at least one electrode to an autonomic neural target; a controller to communicate with the sensing circuit and to control the neural stimulator to reduce inflammatory response to a site of atherosclerosis to provide a therapy for atherosclerotic plaques; a pacing circuit adapted to provide cardiac rhythm management therapy; wherein the neural stimulator and the at least one electrode cooperate to stimulate a peripheral neural pathway that innervates the site of atherosclerosis; and wherein neural stimulation therapy is delivered in conjunction with cardiac preconditioning therapy.
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43. A medical device, comprising:
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a sensing circuit to receive sensed signals representative of blood flow in a vessel to determine extent of blockage; a neural stimulator adapted to deliver an electrical signal through at least one electrode to an autonomic neural target; a controller to communicate with the sensing circuit and to control the neural stimulator to reduce inflammatory response to a site of atherosclerosis to provide a therapy for atherosclerotic plaques; a pacing circuit adapted to provide cardiac rhythm management therapy; wherein the neural stimulator and the at least one electrode cooperate to stimulate a peripheral neural pathway that innervates the site of atherosclerosis; and wherein neural stimulation therapy is delivered in conjunction with cardiac postconditioning therapy.
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Specification