Method and apparatus for regulating blood volume using volume receptor stimulation
First Claim
1. A stimulation system for regulating fluid volume in a body having a cardiovascular system including a superior vena cava, an inferior vena cava, a pulmonary vein, a right atrium, and a left atrium by stimulating volume receptors distributed in the cardiovascular system in or near one or more of a junction of the superior vena and the right atrium, a junction of the inferior vena cava and the right atrium, and a junction of the pulmonary vein and the left atrium, the volume receptors being low-pressure baroreceptors sensing blood volume in the body, the system comprising:
- a stimulation device configured to deliver stimulation to the volume receptors;
a fluid volume sensor configured to sense a volume signal indicative of a level of fluid retention in the body; and
a stimulation controller coupled to the stimulation device and the fluid volume sensor, the stimulation controller programmed to control the delivery of the stimulation using the volume signal and one or more stimulation parameters selected to induce diuresis while preventing desensitization of the volume receptors.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system delivers stimulation to volume receptors in the cardiovascular system to induce diuresis in a patient suffering volume overload. The system senses a volume signal indicative of a level of fluid retention in the patient'"'"'s body and controls the delivery of the stimulation using the volume signal. In various embodiments, the stimulation includes one or more of electrical stimulation, which delivers electrical pulses to the volume receptors, and mechanical stimulation, which physically stretches the volume receptors.
41 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A stimulation system for regulating fluid volume in a body having a cardiovascular system including a superior vena cava, an inferior vena cava, a pulmonary vein, a right atrium, and a left atrium by stimulating volume receptors distributed in the cardiovascular system in or near one or more of a junction of the superior vena and the right atrium, a junction of the inferior vena cava and the right atrium, and a junction of the pulmonary vein and the left atrium, the volume receptors being low-pressure baroreceptors sensing blood volume in the body, the system comprising:
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a stimulation device configured to deliver stimulation to the volume receptors; a fluid volume sensor configured to sense a volume signal indicative of a level of fluid retention in the body; and a stimulation controller coupled to the stimulation device and the fluid volume sensor, the stimulation controller programmed to control the delivery of the stimulation using the volume signal and one or more stimulation parameters selected to induce diuresis while preventing desensitization of the volume receptors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for regulating fluid volume in a body having a cardiovascular system including a superior vena cava, an inferior vena cava, a pulmonary vein, a right atrium, and a left atrium, the method comprising:
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sensing a volume signal indicative of a level of fluid retention in the body using a fluid volume sensor; delivering stimulation from a stimulation device to volume receptors distributed in the cardiovascular system in or near one or more of a junction of the superior vena and the right atrium, a junction of the inferior vena cava and the right atrium, and a junction of the pulmonary vein and the left atrium to induce diuresis while preventing desensitization of the volume receptors, the volume receptors being low-pressure baroreceptors sensing blood volume in the body; and controlling the delivery of the stimulation using the volume signal. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for regulating fluid volume in a body having volume receptors in a cardiovascular system, the method comprising:
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sensing a plurality of signals each indicative of a level of fluid retention in the body using a fluid volume sensor; detecting an occurrence of volume overload using the plurality of signals, weighting factors each applied to a signal of the plurality of signals, and a threshold; and delivering stimulation from a stimulation device to the volume receptors to induce diuresis in response to the detection of the occurrence of volume overload.
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Specification