Methods and Systems for Controlling Blood Pressure

A method for delivering a blood pressure reducing electrical stimulation to a heart of a patient, the method comprising:

• pacing a first chamber of the heart and, after a first delay, pacing a second chamber of the heart to obtain a desired blood pressure change;
• sensing a first intrinsic excitation of the first chamber and, after a second delay, pacing the second chamber;
• determining a first blood pressure change resulting from the second delay;
• comparing the first blood pressure change to the desired blood pressure change;
• adjusting the second delay to a third delay intended to adjust the first blood pressure change closer to the desired blood pressure change;
• sensing a second intrinsic excitation of the first chamber and, after the third delay, pacing the second chamber;
• determining a second blood pressure change resulting from the third delay;
• determining that the second blood pressure change is substantially equal to the desired blood pressure change;
• and
• delivering stimulation patterns to the heart that comprise pulses having the third delay between sensing intrinsic excitation of the first chamber and delivering a stimulation pulse to the second chamber.