Automatic neural stimulation modulation based on activity

• US 9,265,948 B2
• Filed: 10/14/2014
• Issued: 02/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Libbus, Imad, Kramer, Andrew P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stice, Paula J
• Application Number:
  US14/513,844
• Publication Number:
  US 20150032188A1
• Time in Patent Office: 497 Days
• Field of Search: 607 3- 4, 607/6, 607/44, 607/60, 607115-116
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3601 of respiratory organs
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3611 Respiration control stimulating respiratory organs A61N1/3601
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36114 Cardiac control, e.g. by vagal stimulation stimulating the heart A61N1/362
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36117 for treating hypertension
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36139 with automatic adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3614 based on impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3627 for treating a mechanical deficiency of the heart, e.g. congestive heart failure or cardiomyopathy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36535 controlled by body position or posture
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36542 controlled by body motion, e.g. acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3655 controlled by body or blood temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36564 controlled by blood pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36571 controlled by blood flow rate, e.g. blood velocity or cardiac output
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37288 Communication to several implantable medical devices within one patient

Abstract

A system embodiment includes first and second implantable devices. The first implantable device includes at least one pulse generator, at least one sensor and a wireless communication transceiver, and is configured to use the at least one pulse generator to deliver electrical stimulation to a heart (e.g. pace the heart, defibrillate the heart, or both pace and defibrillate the heart). The sensor is configured to sense physiological data. The second implantable device includes a wireless transceiver and is configured to provide neural stimulation to a neural target. The system is configured to wirelessly communicate, via the wireless transceiver of the first implantable device and the wireless transceiver of the second implantable device, sensed physiological data from the first implantable device to the second implantable device. The second implantable device is configured to control the neural stimulation using the sensed physiologic data.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a first implantable device including at least one pulse generator, at least one sensor and a wireless communication transceiver, the first implantable device being configured to use the at least one pulse generator to deliver electrical stimulation to a heart;

the first implantable device being configured to;

pace the heart;

or

defibrillate the heart;

or

both pace and defibrillate the heart; and

the at least one sensor configured to sense physiologic data;

a second implantable device configured to provide neural stimulation to a neural target, the second implantable device including a wireless communication transceiver;

wherein the system is configured to wirelessly communicate, via the wireless communication transceiver of the first implantable device and the wireless communication transceiver of the second implantable device, sensed physiologic data from the first implantable device to the second implantable device, and the second implantable device is configured to control the neural stimulation using the sensed physiologic data.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first implantable device includes a pacemaker configured to pace the heart.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first implantable device includes a defibrillator.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the second implantable device includes a vagus nerve stimulator.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the second implantable device includes a carotid nerve stimulator.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the second implantable device includes a baroreceptor stimulator.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the second implantable device is configured to deliver neural stimulation for a heart failure therapy.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the second implantable device is configured to deliver neural stimulation for an apnea therapy.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the second implantable device is configured to deliver neural stimulation for a hypertension therapy.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor includes at least one physiologic activity sensor configured to sense physiologic activity, the system is configured to wirelessly communicate sensed physiologic activity from the first implantable device to the second implantable device, and the second implantable device is configured to control the neural stimulation using the sensed physiologic activity.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one physiologic sensor is configured to sense body movement.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one physiologic sensor is configured to sense heart rate.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one physiologic sensor is configured to sense a QT interval.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one physiologic sensor is configured to sense respiration.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one physiologic sensor is configured to sense an electrocardiogram.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the second implantable device is configured to control the neural stimulation using the sensed physiologic data and a look up table to adjust neural stimulation intensity.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the second implantable device is configured to control the neural stimulation using the sensed physiologic data and a linear or nonlinear function to adjust neural stimulation intensity.

18. A system, comprising:

a first implantable device including at least one pulse generator, at least one physiologic activity sensor and a wireless communication transceiver, the first implantable device being configured to use the at least one pulse generator to deliver electrical stimulation to defibrillate a heart, the at least one physiologic activity sensor configured to sense physiologic activity data; and

a second implantable device configured to provide neural stimulation to a neural target the second implantable device including a wireless communication transceiver,

wherein the system is configured to wirelessly communicate, via the wireless communication transceiver of the first implantable device and the wireless communication transceiver of the second implantable device, sensed physiologic activity data from the first implantable device to the second implantable device, and the second implantable device is configured to control the neural stimulation using the sensed physiologic activity data.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the second implantable device includes a vagus nerve stimulator, or a carotid nerve stimulator, or a baroreceptor stimulator, the second implantable device being configured to deliver neural stimulation for a hypertension therapy or a heart failure therapy or an apnea therapy.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the at least one physiologic sensor is configured to sense body movement, or heart rate, or respiration, or an electrocardiogram.