Transvenous method to induce respiration

1. A method comprising:

selecting a first bipolar pair of a plurality of electrodes in a first location for stimulating a nerve;

in response to selecting the first bipolar pair, determining whether a cardiac signal can be sensed using the first bipolar pair as a sensing electrode pair, wherein determining whether the cardiac signal can be sensed occurs before delivery of stimulation to a nerve; and

in response to not being able to sense a cardiac signal using the first bipolar pair, enabling stimulation of the nerve using the selected ones of the plurality of electrodes in the first location.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising repositioning the plurality of electrodes to a second position for stimulation of the nerve in response to being able to sense a cardiac signal using the first bipolar pair.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

responsive to sensing the cardiac signal using the first bipolar pair, delivering a stimulation pulse to the nerve via the selected pair of the plurality of electrodes;

monitoring the cardiac signal to detect a change in the cardiac signal in response to the stimulation pulse; and

in response to no change in the cardiac signal being detected, enabling a nerve stimulation therapy to be delivered using the selected pair.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein detecting a change in the cardiac signal comprises detecting a change in heart rate.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of electrodes comprises a distal set of electrodes positioned along a distal portion of a lead body and a proximal set of electrodes spaced proximally from the distal set of electrodes, each of the distal set and the proximal set comprising at least one electrode pair, the method further comprising selecting the first bipolar pair from the distal set of electrodes.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising selecting a second bipolar pair of electrodes in response to sensing a cardiac signal using the first bipolar pair;

determining whether a cardiac signal can be sensed using the second bipolar pair; and

enabling stimulation of the nerve using a selected electrode pair of the plurality of electrodes in response to the determination.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the distal set of electrodes comprises the first bipolar pair and the second bipolar pair.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein the proximal set of electrodes comprises a second bipolar pair of electrodes spaced at a distance from the distal set of electrodes of the lead, wherein the first location positions the second bipolar pair for stimulating a second nerve.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

introducing a lead comprising a lead body carrying the plurality of electrodes into a venous entry site;

advancing the lead along the right innominate vein to position at least one pair of the plurality of electrodes for stimulation of a right phrenic nerve.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: introducing a lead comprising a lead body carrying the plurality of electrodes into a venous entry site; and

advancing the lead along one of a superior vena cava and an inferior vena cava to position at least one pair of the plurality of electrodes for stimulation of a right phrenic nerve.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

delivering a nerve stimulation therapy in response to the enabling;

monitoring for a change in heart rate during the nerve stimulation therapy; and

disabling the nerve stimulation therapy in response to detecting a change in heart rate.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

selecting a second bipolar pair of the plurality electrodes; and

switching from the first bipolar pair to the second bipolar pair during advancement of a lead carrying the first and second bipolar pairs to determine if the second bipolar pair is sensing an EGM signal.

13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising scheduling nerve stimulation pulses to be delivered using an electrode pair selected from the plurality of electrodes;

determining if an EGM signal is being sensed by the selected electrode pair; and

disabling the nerve stimulation pulses in response to EGM sensing by the selected electrode pair.

14. A system comprising:

means for selecting a first bipolar pair of a plurality of electrodes in a first location for stimulating a nerve;

means for determining whether a cardiac signal can be sensed using the first bipolar pair as a sensing electrode pair, wherein determining whether the cardiac signal can be sensed occurs before delivery of stimulation to a nerve;

means for enabling stimulation of the nerve using selected ones of the plurality of electrodes in the first location in response to not being able to sense a cardiac signal using the first bipolar pair; and

means for repositioning the plurality of electrodes to a second position for stimulation of the nerve in response to being able to sense a cardiac signal using the first bipolar pair.