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Subcardiac threshold vagal nerve stimulation

  • US 7,813,805 B1
  • Filed: 01/11/2006
  • Issued: 10/12/2010
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2006
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. An implantable stimulation apparatus comprising:

  • a) a vagal nerve stimulator configured to generate electrical pulses having an energy insufficient to slow a patient'"'"'s heart rate;

    b) a first electrode coupled to the vagal nerve stimulator and configured to transmit the electrical pulses to a vagal nerve so as to at least one of;

    (1) inhibit injury resulting from an ischemia;

    or (2) reduce injury resulting from an ischemia;

    c) a second electrode configured to sense cardiac activity of a patient'"'"'s heart; and

    d) a control circuit coupled to the second electrode and the vagal nerve stimulator, the control circuit configured to;

    use the cardiac activity to determine an energy of the electrical pulses at which the patient'"'"'s heart rate is not slowed;

    determine an energy of the electrical pulses at which the patient'"'"'s heart rate is slowed by increasing the enemy of the electrical pulses until the sensed cardiac activity indicates a slowing of the heart rate; and

    adjust energy parameters of the electrical pulses so that the energy of the electric pulses is insufficient to slow the patient'"'"'s heart rate.

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