Multi-modal neuromodulation

A method for using an electrode for bi-modal neuromodulation of at least one nerve of the autonomic nervous system, wherein the method comprises:

• receiving, by a system comprising a processor, a recording of at least one physiological parameter related to a physiological condition from at least one sensor;
• calculating, by the system, one or more statistical values of the at least one physiological parameter;
• calculating, by the system, an output coefficient representative of a desired change in the at least one physiological parameter based on the one or more statistical values using a control system;
• adjusting, by the system, at least one signal parameter of a stimulation signal and/or at least another signal parameter of a blocking signal based on the output coefficient;
• and
• outputting, by the system, the adjusted at least one signal parameter of the stimulation signal and/or the at least the other signal parameter of the blocking signal to a generator,
• wherein the generator provides the blocking signal to the electrode at a time and the stimulation signal to the electrode at another time such that the blocking signal and the stimulation signal are applied to the at least one nerve of the autonomic nervous system to alter the at least one physiological parameter to continuously adjust to changes in the at least one physiological parameter due to the physiological condition.

A system comprising:

• a generator configured to generate at least a blocking signal and a stimulation signal;
• a bi-polar electrode configured to be positioned in electrical communication with a vagus nerve of a patient, the bi-polar electrode comprising:
• a contact configured to apply the stimulation signal to the vagus nerve to activate parasympathetic neural activity and to apply the blocking signal to the vagus nerve to block parasympathetic neural activity;
• and
• a return contact;
• at least one sensor configured to record an electrocardiogram (ECG) of the patient;
• a controller in communication with the generator and the at least one sensor, the controller comprising a non-transitory memory configured to store instructions and processor configured to execute the instructions to:
• calculate a median heart rate error of the patient at a time based on the ECG and a heart rate error slope,
• calculate an output coefficient representative of a desired change in the median heart rate error and/or the heart rate error slope using a fuzzy logic controller, and
• adjust whether the stimulation signal or the blocking signal is applied and/or one or more parameters of the blocking signal or the stimulation signal based on the output coefficient.