Implantable Device For Evaluating Autonomic Cardiovascular Drive In A Patient Suffering From Chronic Cardiac Dysfunction

An implantable device for evaluating autonomic cardiovascular drive, comprising:

• an implantable neurostimulator comprising a pulse generator configured to deliver electrical therapeutic stimulation tuned to restore autonomic balance at an intensity that avoids acute physiological side effects and with an unchanging cycle not triggered by physiological markers through continuously-cycling, intermittent and periodic electrical pulses simultaneously delivered at a periodic duty cycle in a range between 5% and 30% in both afferent and efferent directions of a cervical vagus nerve in continuous alternating cycles of stimuli application and stimuli inhibition;
• a cervical vagus nerve stimulation therapy lead electrically coupled to the pulse generator and terminated by a pair of helical electrodes through which the therapeutic electrical stimulation is delivered to the cervical vagus nerve;
• and
• an integrated leadless heart rate sensor configured to continually monitor heart rate against a baseline heart rate stored in a memory in the pulse generator.

An implantable device for evaluating autonomic cardiovascular drive in a patient suffering from chronic cardiac dysfunction, comprising:

• a cervical vagus nerve stimulation therapy lead, comprising:
• a pair of helical electrodes configured to conform to an outer diameter of a cervical vagus nerve sheath of a patient;
• and
• a set of connector pins electrically connected to the helical electrodes by an insulated electrical lead body;
• and
• a neurostimulator powered by a primary battery and enclosed in a hermetically sealed housing, further comprising:
• an electrical receptacle comprised on an outer surface of the housing into which the connector pins are securely and electrically coupled;
• a pulse generator configured to therapeutically stimulate the cervical vagus nerve through the helical electrodes in alternating cycles of stimuli application and stimuli inhibition that are tuned to restore autonomic balance at an intensity that avoids acute physiological side effects and with an unchanging cycle not triggered by physiological markers through continuously-cycling, intermittent and periodic electrical pulses simultaneously delivered at a periodic duty cycle in a range between 5% and 30% in both afferent and efferent directions of the vagus nerve to both efferently activate the heart's intrinsic nervous system and afferently activate the patient's central reflexes by triggering bi-directional action potentials;
• a recordable memory within which is stored a baseline heart rate for the patient prior to stimulation therapy initiation;
• and
• an integrated leadless heart rate sensor configured to continually monitor the patient's heart rate in light of the baseline heart rate.