System to stimulate a neural target and a heart

• US 9,561,373 B2
• Filed: 02/04/2016
• Issued: 02/07/2017
• 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:
  US15/015,491
• Publication Number:
  US 20160228711A1
• Time in Patent Office: 369 Days
• 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

According to an embodiment of a method for providing neural stimulation, activity is sensed, and neural stimulation is automatically controlled based on the sensed activity. An embodiment determines periods of rest and periods of exercise using the sensed activity, and applies neural stimulation during rest and withdrawing neural stimulation during exercise. Other embodiments are provided herein.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a first implantable device configured to provide neural stimulation to a neural target, the first implantable device including a sensor to sense physiological data and a wireless communication transceiver, wherein the sensor includes a sensor selected from the group of sensors consisting of;

a sensor of nerve activity, a blood pressure sensor, a respiration sensor, a sensor to detect transthoracic impedance, a posture sensor, a motion sensor, an accelerometer, an electroencephalograph (EEG) sensor, and a pulse oximetry sensor;

a second implantable device configured to deliver electrical stimulation to a heart, the second implantable device including a wireless transceiver, wherein the system is configured to wireless 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, and the second implantable device is configured to use the sensed physiologic data to control delivery of the electrical stimulation to the heart.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor includes the sensor of nerve activity.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor includes the blood pressure sensor.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor includes the respiration sensor.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the respiration sensor is configured to monitor tidal volume.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the respiration sensor is configured to monitor minute ventilation.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first implantable device further includes a heart rate sensor and the second implantable device is further configured to use sensed heart rate from the heart rate sensor to control delivery of the electrical stimulation to the heart.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the first implantable device further sensor includes a sensor to detect electrocardiograms (ECGs).

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the sensor includes a subcutaneous ECG sensor.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor includes the sensor to detect transthoracic impedance.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor includes the posture sensor.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor includes the motion sensor.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor includes the accelerometer.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor includes global positioning system (GPS) technology.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor includes the electroencephalogram (EEG) sensor.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor includes a body temperature sensor.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor includes the pulse oximetry sensor.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor includes a stroke volume sensor.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the first implantable device is further configured to alert the second implantable device when it is going to apply electrical stimulation.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the first implantable device is configured to deliver neural stimulation for a heart failure therapy, or is configured to deliver neural stimulation for an apnea therapy, or is configured to deliver neural stimulation for a hypertension therapy.