Sympathetic stimulation for improved myocardial relaxation
First Claim
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1. A device, comprising:
- neural stimulation circuitry for delivering electrostimulation pulses to one or more electrodes adapted for stimulating sympathetic nerves innervating the heart of a patient;
lusitropy sensing circuitry for measuring ventricular isovolumic relaxation time; and
,a controller programmed to compare the measured ventricular isovolumic relaxation time to a specified threshold in order to determine if diastolic relaxation is impaired and, when diastolic relaxation is impaired, enter a neural stimulation mode for operating the neural stimulation circuitry to deliver sympathetic stimulation to the heart.
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Abstract
Described are methods and devices for improving diastolic function with electrostimulation in heart failure patients who exhibit relatively normal systolic function. Such patients are characterized by impaired myocardial relaxation during diastole that prevents adequate filling of the ventricles during diastole to thereby reduce cardiac output. An implantable device is described for effecting strategic and periodic stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system to elicit myocardial adrenergic activation for improved myocardial relaxation.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A device, comprising:
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neural stimulation circuitry for delivering electrostimulation pulses to one or more electrodes adapted for stimulating sympathetic nerves innervating the heart of a patient; lusitropy sensing circuitry for measuring ventricular isovolumic relaxation time; and
,a controller programmed to compare the measured ventricular isovolumic relaxation time to a specified threshold in order to determine if diastolic relaxation is impaired and, when diastolic relaxation is impaired, enter a neural stimulation mode for operating the neural stimulation circuitry to deliver sympathetic stimulation to the heart. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for operating an implantable device in a patient, comprising:
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measuring ventricular isovolumic relaxation time; and
,comparing the measured isovolumic relaxation time to a specified threshold in order to determine if diastolic relaxation is impaired and, when diastolic relaxation is impaired, entering a neural stimulation mode to deliver electrostimulation pulses to one or more electrodes adapted for stimulating sympathetic nerves innervating the heart. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification