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Methods and apparatus to increase secretion of endogenous naturetic hormones

  • US 9,687,636 B2
  • Filed: 08/06/2013
  • Issued: 06/27/2017
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2005
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method for treating a patient suffering from a condition comprising at least one of hypertension, excessive fluid retention, and excessive sodium retention, the method comprising:

  • treating the condition by stressing a wall of at least one atrium of a heart of the patient beyond a natural stress condition of the wall, such that the stressed wall secretes a hormone at an elevated level above a natural secretion level occurring naturally when the wall of the at least one atrium is not stressed by the stressing; and

    achieving a beneficial therapeutic effect in the patient by the hormone secreted at the elevated level, wherein the beneficial therapeutic effect includes a reduction in blood pressure,wherein stressing the wall of the at least one atrium of the heart comprises;

    synchronously pacing the heart of the patient during a first pacing period,pacing, during a second pacing period lasting at least long enough to cause secretion of the hormone at the elevated level, the heart of the patient to cyclically contract and stretch the at least one atrium, stress the wall of the at least one atrium due to the stretch, and restore the wall of the at least one atrium to substantially the natural stress condition, andalternating in a preset pattern between repetitions of the synchronous pacing of the first pacing period and the pacing of the second pacing period,wherein the second pacing period is applied at least two preset times per day at durations each lasting at least ten minutes,such that the stressed wall secretes the hormone at an elevated level above a natural secretion level occurring naturally when the heart is not stressed by the pacing of the repetitions of the second pacing period.

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