Vagal stimulation for anti-embolic therapy
First Claim
1. A treatment method, comprising:
- applying an electrical current to a vagus nerve of a subject; and
modulating the current to cause fluctuation in atrial contractility sufficiently to reduce a risk of an occurrence of a thromboembolic event,wherein modulating the current to cause the fluctuation in the atrial contractility comprises cycling between first and second stimulation periods, and;
during the first stimulation periods, configuring the current to cause a reduction in a force of contraction of atrial cells of the subject, and configuring the current so as to induce action potentials in the vagus nerve; and
during the second stimulation periods, configuring the current to cause an increase in the reduced force of contraction of the atrial cells, and configuring the current so as to block action potentials in the vagus nerve.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus (20) for treating a subject (30) suffering from spontaneous atrial fibrillation includes an electrode device (22), adapted to be coupled to a site of the subject (30) selected from the list consisting of: a vagus nerve (24) of the subject (30), an epicardial fat pad of the subject (30), a pulmonary vein of the subject (30), a carotid artery of the subject (30), a carotid sinus of the subject (30), a vena cava vein of the subject (30), and an internal jugular vein of the subject (30), and a control unit (32), adapted to drive the electrode device (22) to apply an electrical current to the site, and to configure the current to maintain the spontaneous AF for at least about 24 hours, so as to modify blood flow within the atria and reduce risk of thromboembolic events.
297 Citations
24 Claims
-
1. A treatment method, comprising:
-
applying an electrical current to a vagus nerve of a subject; and modulating the current to cause fluctuation in atrial contractility sufficiently to reduce a risk of an occurrence of a thromboembolic event, wherein modulating the current to cause the fluctuation in the atrial contractility comprises cycling between first and second stimulation periods, and; during the first stimulation periods, configuring the current to cause a reduction in a force of contraction of atrial cells of the subject, and configuring the current so as to induce action potentials in the vagus nerve; and during the second stimulation periods, configuring the current to cause an increase in the reduced force of contraction of the atrial cells, and configuring the current so as to block action potentials in the vagus nerve. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
-
6. A treatment method, comprising:
-
applying an electrical current to a vagus nerve of a subject; and modulating the current to cause fluctuation in atrial contractility sufficiently to reduce a risk of an occurrence of a thromboembolic event, wherein modulating the current to cause the fluctuation in the atrial contractility comprises cycling between first and second stimulation periods, and; during the first stimulation periods, configuring the current to cause a reduction in a force of contraction of atrial cells of the subject; and during the second stimulation periods, configuring the current to cause an increase in the reduced force of contraction of the atrial cells, wherein modulating the current comprises sensing at least one physiological variable of the subject, and synchronizing a commencement of at least one of the first and second stimulation periods with the sensed physiological variable, wherein the sensed physiological variable includes a QRS-complex of the subject, and wherein modulating the current comprises initiating each of the first stimulations period within about 50 milliseconds after an occurrence of the QRS-complex. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A treatment method, comprising:
-
applying an electrical current to a vagus nerve of a subject; and modulating the current to cause fluctuation in atrial contractility sufficiently to reduce a risk of an occurrence of a thromboembolic event, wherein modulating the current to cause the fluctuation in the atrial contractility comprises cycling between first and second stimulation periods, and; during the first stimulation periods, configuring the current to cause a reduction in a force of contraction of atrial cells of the subject; and during the second stimulation periods, configuring the current to cause an increase in the reduced force of contraction of the atrial cells, wherein modulating the current comprises sensing at least one physiological variable of the subject, and synchronizing a commencement of at least one of the first and second stimulation periods with the sensed physiological variable, wherein the sensed physiological variable includes an expiration by the subject, and wherein modulating configuring the current comprises initiating each of the first stimulation periods within about 500 milliseconds after a beginning of the expiration. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A treatment method, comprising:
-
applying an electrical current to a vagus nerve of a subject; and modulating the current to cause fluctuation in atrial contractility sufficiently to reduce a risk of an occurrence of a thromboembolic event, wherein modulating the current to cause the fluctuation in the atrial contractility comprises cycling between first and second stimulation periods, and; during the first stimulation periods, configuring the current to cause a reduction in a force of contraction of atrial cells of the subject; and during the second stimulation periods, configuring the current to cause an increase in the reduced force of contraction of the atrial cells, wherein modulating the current comprises sensing at least one physiological variable of the subject, and synchronizing a commencement of at least one of the first and second stimulation periods with the sensed physiological variable, wherein the sensed physiological variable includes diastole of the subject, and wherein modulating configuring the current comprises initiating each of the second stimulation periods substantially simultaneously with a portion of the diastole. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
-
Specification