Systems and methods for treating autonomic instability and medical conditions associated therewith

1. A closed-loop therapy delivery system for treating autonomic instability or a medical condition associated therewith in a subject, the therapy delivery system comprising:

a sensing component configured to detect at least one physiological parameter associated with autonomic instability or the medical condition associated therewith;

a delivery component configured for implantation on or about an autonomic nervous tissue target or a spinal nervous tissue target; and

a controller configured to automatically coordinate operation of the sensing and delivery components;

wherein the controller is programmed to deliver an electrical signal to the delivery component to modulate activity at the autonomic nervous tissue target or a spinal nervous tissue target and effectively treat the autonomic instability or the medical condition associated therewith;

wherein the controller is programmed to deliver an electrical signal having a frequency of about 10,000 Hz to about 25,000 Hz.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the delivered electrical signal substantially blocks activity at the autonomic nervous tissue target or a spinal nervous tissue target.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one physiological parameter includes a chemical moiety or an electrical activity.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the autonomic nervous tissue target is a ganglion of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS).

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the ganglion of the SNS is a cervical ganglion, a cervicothoracic ganglion, or a thoracic ganglion.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the cervical ganglion is an upper, middle, or lower cervical ganglion.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the spinal nervous tissue target is one of a cervical spinal cord segment, a thoracic spinal cord segment, a lumbar spinal cord segment, a sacral spinal cord segment, or spinal nervous tissue associated therewith.

8. A method for treating autonomic instability or a medical condition associated therewith in a subject, the method comprising the steps of:

placing a therapy delivery device into electrical communication with an autonomic nervous tissue target or a spinal nervous tissue target associated with autonomic instability or the medical condition associated therewith; and

activating the therapy delivery device to deliver an electrical signal to the autonomic nervous tissue target or a spinal nervous tissue target to effectively treat autonomic instability or the medical condition associated therewith in the subject;

wherein the electrical signal has a frequency of about 10,000 Hz to about 25,000 Hz.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising the steps of:

sensing at least one physiological parameter associated with autonomic instability or the medical condition associated therewith;

generating a sensor signal based on the at least one physiological parameter; and

activating the therapy delivery device to adjust application of the electrical signal to the autonomic nervous tissue target or a spinal nervous tissue target in response to the sensor signal to treat autonomic instability or the medical condition associated therewith.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the at least one physiological parameter includes a chemical moiety or an electrical activity.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the delivered therapy delivery substantially decreases sympathetic activity at the autonomic nervous tissue target or a spinal nervous tissue target.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the autonomic nervous tissue target is a ganglion of the SNS.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the ganglion of the SNS is a cervical ganglion, a cervicothoracic ganglion, or a thoracic ganglion.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the cervical ganglion is an upper, middle, or lower cervical ganglion.

15. The method of claim 8 , wherein the spinal nervous tissue target is one of a cervical spinal cord segment, a thoracic spinal cord segment, a lumbar spinal cord segment, a sacral spinal cord segment, or spinal nervous tissue associated therewith.

16. The method of claim 8 , wherein the medical condition associated with autonomic instability is a neurological condition.