Enhancing left ventricular relaxation through neuromodulation
AssigneeNuXcel Limited
InventorsMichael Cuchiara, Stephen C. Masson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Neuromodulation is used to enhance left ventricular relaxation and/or left ventricular contractility, during contemporaneous use of a mechanical circulatory support device to increase cardiac output or aid in unloading the heart. An exemplary neuromodulation system includes a therapy element positionable in proximity to at least one nerve fiber, and a stimulator configured to energize the therapy element to delivery therapy to the at least one nerve fiber such that left ventricular relaxation and left ventricular contractility are contemporaneously enhanced.
Claims21
A method of treating a patient having a left ventricular contractility (LVC) and a left ventricular relaxation (LVR), comprising:
- using a mechanical circulatory support device to increase cardiac output or aid in unloading the heart;
- and
- while using the mechanical circulatory support device, delivering neuromodulation therapy to contemporaneously enhance LVC and LVR.
A system for treating a patient having a left ventricular contractility (LVC) and a left ventricular relaxation (LVR), comprising:
- a mechanical circulatory support device positionable to enhance circulation of blood in the patient to increase cardiac output or aid in unloading the heart;
- and
- a neuromodulation system for enhancing left ventricular relaxation (LVR) and left ventricular contractility (LVC), the neuromodulation system comprising
- at least one neuromodulation therapy element adapted for positioning in proximity to at least one nerve fiber within a patient;
- a stimulator configured to energize said at least one therapy element to deliver therapy to said at least one nerve fiber;
- at least one sensor;
- a control system programmed to:
- receive user input specifying a selected target range of a ratio of LVC enhancement to LVR enhancement,
- receive a first input from said at least one sensor prior to initiation of the therapy,
- receive a first second input from said at least one sensor after initiation of the therapy,
- using the first input, determine a measure LVR and a measure of LVC prior to the initiation of the therapy,
- after receipt of the user input, cause the stimulator to energize said at least one therapy element to deliver the therapy to said at least one nerve fiber,
- using the second input received from said at least one sensor, determine the measure of LVR and the measure of LVC after the initiation of the therapy,
- determine LVC enhancement by comparing the measure of LVC from prior to the initiation of neuromodulation to said measure of LVC after the initiation of the therapy,
- determine LVR enhancement by comparing the measure of LVR from prior to the initiation of neuromodulation to said measure of LVR after the initiation of the therapy, and
- control delivery of the therapy so the delivered therapy contemporaneously enhances LVC and LVR such that the ratio of the LVC enhancement to the LVR enhancement is within the selected target range.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.