Neural stimulation systems, devices and methods
Various system embodiments comprise circuitry to determine when an arrhythmia has terminated, and a neural stimulator adapted to temporarily deliver neural stimulation therapy to assist with recovering from the arrhythmia in response to termination of the arrhythmia.
1. A method, comprising:
chronically performing a prophylactic neural stimulation therapy;
in response to a therapy trigger, delivering an arrhythmia therapy, wherein delivering the other therapy includes temporarily delivering therapeutic neural stimulation as part of the other therapy;
determining when an arrhythmia has terminated, and responding to termination of the arrhythmia by initiating a post-therapy neural stimulation that has a programmed duration, wherein stimulation in the post-therapy neural stimulation is distinct from stimulation in the prophylactic neural stimulation therapy; and
upon completion of the other therapy, chronically performing the prophylactic neural stimulation therapy.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the prophylactic neural stimulation therapy includes chronically performing the prophylactic neural stimulation according to a programmed therapy schedule contingent on enabling conditions.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising delivering pre-therapy neural stimulation, wherein stimulation in the pre-therapy neural stimulation is distinct from stimulation in the prophylactic neural stimulation therapy.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein temporarily delivering neural stimulation includes temporarily delivering a multi-stage therapy.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein temporarily delivering neural stimulation includes delivering a programmed neural stimulation as a programmed response to the therapy trigger.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the prophylactic neural stimulation therapy includes neural stimulation to control blood pressure.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the prophylactic neural stimulation therapy includes neural stimulation to prevent or reduce a risk of cardiac arrhythmia.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the prophylactic neural stimulation therapy includes a heart failure therapy.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
in response to a therapy trigger, delivering a pretherapy neural stimulation in preparation for delivering the other therapy; and
upon completion of the other therapy, delivering a post-therapy neural stimulation to assist with recovering from the other therapy.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein delivering a post-therapy neural stimulation includes delivering the post-therapy neural stimulation using a first stage of stimulation and then using a second stage of stimulation distinct from the first stage.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein delivering the pretherapy neural stimulation includes delivering a programmed pretherapy neural stimulation having a programmed duration and including a plurality of neural stimulation pulses, wherein the pretherapy neural stimulation is a programmed response to the therapy trigger.
12. The method of claim 9 , further comprising detecting an arrhythmia, and providing the therapy trigger in response to detecting the arrhythmia.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the therapy includes;
an anti-arrhythmia shock therapy, and the pretherapy neural stimulation includes a neural stimulation therapy to reduce pain associated with the antiarrhythmia shock therapy; or
an antitachycardia pacing, and the pretherapy neural stimulation includes a neural stimulation therapy to modify the arrhythmia in preparation for antitachycardia pacing.
14. A method, comprising:
chronically performing a prophylactic neural stimulation therapy;
in response to a therapy trigger, temporarily delivering neural stimulation as part of an arrhythmia therapy, determining when an arrhythmia has terminated, and responding to termination of the arrhythmia by initiating and delivering a post-therapy neural stimulation, the post-therapy neural stimulation having a programmed duration and is distinct from the prophylactic neural stimulation therapy; and
upon completion of the arrhythmia therapy, chronically performing the prophylactic neural stimulation therapy.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the chronically-performed prophylactic neural stimulation therapy includes neural stimulation to control blood pressure.
16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the chronically-performed prophylactic neural stimulation therapy includes neural stimulation to prevent or reduce a risk of cardiac arrhythmia.
17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the chronically-performed prophylactic neural stimulation therapy includes a heart failure therapy.
18. The method of claim 14 , wherein in response to the therapy trigger, delivering a pretherapy neural stimulation and then delivering the arrhythmia therapy.