System to provide myocardial and neural stimulation

A method for operating a system that includes stimulation circuitry with one stimulation output, wherein the stimulation circuitry includes a stimulation module configured to generate one programmed sequence of electrical pulses at a time and deliver the sequence of electrical pulses from the stimulation output into the stimulation channel for both neural stimulation and cardiac rhythm management (CRM) therapies, the method comprising:

• selecting a therapy to be delivered by the system;
• upon selecting the CRM therapy, using the stimulation module to deliver a CRM stimulation signal through the stimulation output into the stimulation channel, wherein the CRM stimulation signal has parameters to effectively capture myocardia for the CRM therapy;
• and
• upon selecting the neural stimulation therapy, using the stimulation module to deliver a neural stimulation signal through the stimulation output into the stimulation channel, wherein the neural stimulation signal has parameters to effectively depolarize a neural target and elicit a desired neural response.

A method for making an implantable medical device, comprising:

• connecting a controller to a memory;
• connecting the controller to stimulation circuitry having one stimulation output, wherein the stimulation circuitry includes a memory and a stimulation module configured to generate one programmed sequence of electrical pulses at a time and configured to deliver the sequence of electrical pulses from the stimulation output into the stimulation channel for a stimulation therapy delivered using the electrode;
• and
• storing computer instructions in the memory to be performed by the controller, the computer instructions including instructions to perform a neural stimulation therapy and a cardiac rhythm management (CRM) therapy, wherein the computer instructions further include instructions to receive a therapy selection input, to generate a neural stimulation signal on the stimulation channel to the electrode if the neural stimulation therapy is selected, and to generate a CRM stimulation signal on the stimulation channel to the electrode if the CRM therapy is selected.

A method for making an implantable medical device, comprising:

• connecting a controller to a memory;
• connecting the controller to stimulation circuitry having one stimulation output, wherein the stimulation circuitry includes a memory and a stimulation module configured to generate one programmed sequence of electrical pulses at a time and configured to deliver the sequence of electrical pulses from the stimulation output into the stimulation channel for a stimulation therapy delivered using the electrode;
• and
• storing computer instructions in the memory to be performed by the controller, the computer instructions including instructions to perform a neural stimulation therapy and a cardiac rhythm management (CRM) therapy, wherein the computer instructions further include instructions to receive a therapy selection input, to generate a neural stimulation signal on the stimulation channel to the electrode if the neural stimulation therapy is selected, and to generate a CRM stimulation signal on the stimulation channel to the electrode if the CRM therapy is selected, wherein the computer instructions further include instructions to generate a combination stimulation signal on the stimulation channel if a combination of neural stimulation and CRM therapies is selected, wherein the combination stimulation signal includes a programmed sequence of electrical pulses that is effective in capturing myocardia and effective in depolarizing a neural target.

A method for making an implantable medical device, comprising:

• connecting a controller to a memory;
• connecting the controller to stimulation circuitry having one stimulation output, wherein the stimulation circuitry includes a memory and a stimulation module configured to generate one programmed sequence of electrical pulses at a time and configured to deliver the sequence of electrical pulses from the stimulation output into the stimulation channel for a stimulation therapy delivered using the electrode;
• and
• storing computer instructions in the memory to be performed by the controller, the computer instructions including instructions to perform a neural stimulation therapy and a cardiac rhythm management (CRM) therapy, wherein the computer instructions further include instructions to receive a therapy selection input, to generate a neural stimulation signal on the stimulation channel to the electrode if the neural stimulation therapy is selected, and to generate a CRM stimulation signal on the stimulation channel to the electrode if the CRM therapy is selected, wherein the computer instructions include instructions to generate the neural stimulation signal on the stimulation channel to the electrode during a first time, and to generate a CRM stimulation signal on the stimulation channel to the electrode during a second time separate from the first time.

A method for making an implantable medical device, comprising:

• connecting a controller to a memory;
• connecting the controller to stimulation circuitry having one stimulation output, wherein the stimulation circuitry includes a memory and a stimulation module configured to generate one programmed sequence of electrical pulses at a time and configured to deliver the sequence of electrical pulses from the stimulation output into the stimulation channel for a stimulation therapy delivered using the electrode;
• and
• storing computer instructions in the memory to be performed by the controller, the computer instructions including instructions to perform a neural stimulation therapy and a cardiac rhythm management (CRM) therapy, wherein the computer instructions further include instructions to receive a therapy selection input, to generate a neural stimulation signal on the stimulation channel to the electrode if the neural stimulation therapy is selected, and to generate a CRM stimulation signal on the stimulation channel to the electrode if the CRM therapy is selected, wherein the instructions include instructions to generate the neural stimulation signal and the CRM stimulation signal using a time division multiplexing scheme.

A method for making an implantable medical device, comprising:

• connecting a controller to a memory;
• connecting the controller to stimulation circuitry having one stimulation output, wherein the stimulation circuitry includes a memory and a stimulation module configured to generate one programmed sequence of electrical pulses at a time and configured to deliver the sequence of electrical pulses from the stimulation output into the stimulation channel for a stimulation therapy delivered using the electrode;
• and
• storing computer instructions in the memory to be performed by the controller, the computer instructions including instructions to perform a neural stimulation therapy and a cardiac rhythm management (CRM) therapy, wherein the computer instructions further include instructions to receive a therapy selection input, to generate a neural stimulation signal on the stimulation channel to the electrode if the neural stimulation therapy is selected, and to generate a CRM stimulation signal on the stimulation channel to the electrode if the CRM therapy is selected, wherein the instructions include instructions to generate a combination stimulation signal on the stimulation channel to simultaneously perform the neural stimulation therapy and the CRM therapy.