Method and apparatus for electrically stimulating the nervous system to improve ventricular dysfunction, heart failure, and other cardiac conditions
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for treating a patient to improve cardiac performance and efficiency of the patient'"'"'s heart, the apparatus comprising:
- at least one electrode adapted to be located in a region associated with nervous tissue in a patient;
means for monitoring one or more physiologic parameters of the patient;
means for automatically applying electrical stimulation via the at least one electrode to improve balance of a neuro-endocrinological system of the patient in response to the one or more physiologic parameters of the patient; and
means for delivering a pacing therapy to the patient'"'"'s heart of a type that improves cardiac output, wherein said pacing therapy consists of a cardiac resynchronization therapy; and
means for adjusting the electrical stimulation applied during delivery of the pacing therapy responsive to the one or more physiological parameters of the patient as monitored during delivery of the pacing therapy.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus are used to provide therapy to a patient experiencing ventricular dysfunction or heart failure. At least one electrode is located in a region associated with nervous tissue, such as nerve bundles T1-T4, in a patient'"'"'s body. Electrical stimulation is applied to the at least one electrode to improve the cardiac efficiency of the patient'"'"'s heart. One or more predetermined physiologic parameters of the patient are monitored, and the electrical stimulation is adjusted based on the one or more predetermined physiologic parameters.
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11 Claims
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1. An apparatus for treating a patient to improve cardiac performance and efficiency of the patient'"'"'s heart, the apparatus comprising:
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at least one electrode adapted to be located in a region associated with nervous tissue in a patient; means for monitoring one or more physiologic parameters of the patient; means for automatically applying electrical stimulation via the at least one electrode to improve balance of a neuro-endocrinological system of the patient in response to the one or more physiologic parameters of the patient; and means for delivering a pacing therapy to the patient'"'"'s heart of a type that improves cardiac output, wherein said pacing therapy consists of a cardiac resynchronization therapy; and means for adjusting the electrical stimulation applied during delivery of the pacing therapy responsive to the one or more physiological parameters of the patient as monitored during delivery of the pacing therapy. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification