Abstract: A method of performing a medical procedure, such as surgery, is provided. A nerve is stimulated in order to adjust the beating of the heart to a first condition, such as a stopped or slowed condition. The medical procedure is performed on the heart or another organ. The stimulation of the nerve is stopped in order to adjust the beating of the heart to a second condition, such as a beating condition. The heart itself may also be stimulated to a beating condition, such as by pacing. The stimulation of the nerve may be continued in order to allow the medical procedure to be continued. Systems and devices for performing the medical procedure are also provided.

Abstract: A method of performing a medical procedure, such as surgery, is provided. A nerve is stimulated in order to adjust the beating of the heart to a first condition, such as a stopped or slowed condition. The medical procedure is performed on the heart or another organ. The stimulation of the nerve is stopped in order to adjust the beating of the heart to a second condition, such as a beating condition. The heart itself may also be stimulated to a beating condition, such as by pacing. The stimulation of the nerve may be continued in order to allow the medical procedure to be continued. A sensor to sense a characteristic of a fluid or tissue, such as an impending contraction, may be also used during the medical procedure. Systems and devices for performing the medical procedure are also provided.

Abstract: Techniques for detecting atrial fibrillation via a ventricular lead are described. An implantable medical device according to the invention may monitor a ventricular depolarization rate via the ventricular lead in order to detect the effect of conducted atrial fibrillation of the ventricular rate. For example, the implantable medical device may detect an increase in the ventricular rate, or a decrease in the stability of the ventricular rate. The implantable medical device may also detect the effect of delivery of a pacing pulse on the length of an R-R interval subsequent to the delivery. A compensatory pause following delivery of a pacing pulse may indicate the presence of conducted atrial fibrillation. The implantable medical device may store information relating to detected episodes of atrial fibrillation for later review by a physician, so that atrial fibrillation may be diagnosed in situations where it might not otherwise be detected.

Abstract: A method of performing a medical procedure is provided. The medical procedure includes stimulation of a patient's heart while stimulating a nerve of the patient in order to modulate the patient's inflammatory process. More particularly, the medical procedure includes pacing the ventricles of the patient's heart while stimulating the vagal nerve of the patient. Systems and devices for performing the medical procedure are also provided.

Abstract: A method of performing a medical procedure, such as surgery, is provided. A nerve is stimulated in order to adjust the beating of the heart to a first condition, such as a stopped or slowed condition. The medical procedure is performed on the heart or another organ. The stimulation of the nerve is stopped in order to adjust the beating of the heart to a second condition, such as a beating condition. The heart itself may also be stimulated to a beating condition, such as by pacing. The stimulation of the nerve may be continued in order to allow the medical procedure to be continued. Systems and devices for performing the medical procedure are also provided.

Abstract: A method of performing a medical procedure, such as surgery, is provided. The spinal cord is stimulated in order to control at least one physiological function. The medical procedure is performed and stimulation of the spinal cord is stopped.

Abstract: An implantable stimulator and monitor measures a group of heart failure parameters indicative of the state of heart failure employing EGM signals, measures of blood pressure including absolute pressure P, developed pressure (DP=systolic P−diastolic P), and/or dP/dt, and measures of heart chamber volume (V) over one or more cardiac cycles. These parameters include: (1) relaxation or contraction time constant tau (&tgr;); (2) mechanical restitution (MR), i.e., the mechanical response of a heart chamber to premature stimuli applied to the heart chamber; (3) recirculation fraction (RF), i.e., the rate of decay of PESP effects over a series of heart cycles; and (4) end systolic elastance (EES), i.e., the ratios of end systolic blood pressure P to volume V. These heart failure parameters are determined periodically regardless of patient posture and activity level.

Abstract: A method of performing a medical procedure, such as surgery, is provided. A nerve is stimulated in order to adjust the beating of the heart to a first condition, such as a stopped or slowed condition. The medical procedure is performed on the heart or another organ. The stimulation of the nerve is stopped in order to adjust the beating of the heart to a second condition, such as a beating condition. The heart itself may also be stimulated to a beating condition, such as by pacing. The stimulation of the nerve may be continued in order to allow the medical procedure to be continued. Systems and devices for performing the medical procedure are also provided.

Abstract: A method of performing a medical procedure, such as surgery, is provided. A nerve is stimulated in order to adjust the beating of the heart to a first condition, such as a stopped or slowed condition. The medical procedure is performed on the heart or another organ. The stimulation of the nerve is stopped in order to adjust the beating of the heart to a second condition, such as a beating condition. The heart itself may also be stimulated to a beating condition, such as by pacing. The stimulation of the nerve may be continued in order to allow the medical procedure to be continued. Systems and devices for performing the medical procedure are also provided.

Abstract: An electro-stimulation device includes a pair of electrodes for connection to at least one location in the body that affects or regulates the heartbeat. The electro-stimulation device both electrically arrests the heartbeat and stimulates the heartbeat. A pair of electrodes are provided for connection to at least one location in the body that affects or regulates the heartbeat. The pair of electrodes may be connected to an intravenous catheter for transvenous stimulation of the appropriate nerve. A first switch is connected between a power supply and the electrodes for selectively supplying current from the power supply to the electrodes to augment any natural stimuli to the heart and thereby stop the heart from beating. A second switch is connected between the power supply and the electrodes for selectively supplying current from the power supply to the electrodes to provide an artificial stimulus to initiate heartbeating.

Abstract: A method of performing a medical procedure, such as surgery, is provided. The spinal cord is stimulated in order to control at least one physiological function. The medical procedure is performed and stimulation of the spinal cord is stopped.

Abstract: A system of performing a medical procedure, such as surgery, is provided. The system comprises a sensor to sense a state of cardiac tissue, such as an impending contraction and an indicator to indicate the state of the cardiac tissue. Methods and devices for performing the medical procedure are also provided.

Abstract: A method of performing a medical procedure, such as surgery, is provided. The system comprises a sensor to sense a biological characteristic, such as a chemical, physical or physiological characteristic of a bodily tissue or fluid. The method also comprises a nerve stimulator in communication with the sensor to inhibit beating of a heart when the sensor senses the biological characteristic at a first value; and a cardiac stimulator in communication with the sensor to stimulate beating of the heart when the sensor senses the biological characteristic at a second value.

Abstract: A system of performing a medical procedure, such as surgery, is provided. The system comprises a compression member for compressing a body portion and a means for controlling the compression. Methods and devices for performing the medical procedure are also provided.

Abstract: A system of performing a medical procedure, such as surgery, is provided. The system comprises a sensor to sense a state of cardiac tissue, such as an impending contraction and an indicator to indicate the state of the cardiac tissue. Methods and devices for performing the medical procedure are also provided.

Abstract: A device implemented software system for use with atrial and/or ventricular rate stabilization to adjust DDD/R rate stabilization while maintaining intrinsic ventricular response timing to overdrive the intrinsic sinus (atrial) rate. Specifically, the algorithm is directed toward maintaining ventricular activation/contraction sequence while improving atrial and ventricular hemodynamics. Generally, the PAV interval is prolonged subsequent to a sensed premature beat. In an ultimate embodiment, the algorithm enables extension of the PAV interval subsequent to a non-conducted premature atrial event. The extension of the PAV interval allows for the simultaneous smoothing of the atrial and ventricular rates.

Abstract: Bi-ventricular cardiac pacing systems and systems for improving cardiac function for heart failure patients that pace and sense in right and left ventricles of the heart and particularly pace in one of the right and left ventricles after an AV delay timed from a preceding atrial event and after a spontaneous depolarization in the other of the right and left ventricles to achieve fusion pacing. An A-RVp delay and an A-LVp delay are each determined from an intrinsic sensed A-RVs delay and an intrinsic A-LVs delay. If the derived A-LVp delay becomes substantially equal to or shorter than the intrinsic A-RVs delay, then the A-RVp delay is decremented to be shorter than the A-LVp delay. Bi-ventricular pacing of the RV and LV is then established closely timed to the intrinsic RV and LV depolarizations.

Abstract: An electro-stimulation device includes a pair of electrodes for connection to at least one location in the body that affects or regulates the heartbeat. The electro-stimulation device both electrically arrests the heartbeat and stimulates the heartbeat. A pair of electrodes are provided for connection to at least one location in the body that affects or regulates the heartbeat. The pair of electrodes may be connected to an intravenous catheter for transvenous stimulation of the appropriate nerve. A first switch is connected between a power supply and the electrodes for selectively supplying current from the power supply to the electrodes to augment any natural stimuli to the heart and thereby stop the heart from beating. A second switch is connected between the power supply and the electrodes for selectively supplying current from the power supply to the electrodes to provide an artificial stimulus to initiate heartbeating.

Abstract: A method of performing a medical procedure, such as surgery, is provided. A nerve is stimulated to adjust the beating of the heart to a first condition, such as a stopped or slowed condition. The medical procedure is performed on the heart or another organ. The stimulation of the nerve is stopped to adjust the beating of the heart to a second condition, such as a beating condition. The heart itself may also be stimulated to a beating condition, such as by pacing. The stimulation of the nerve may be continued to allow the medical procedure to be continued. Systems and devices for performing the medical procedure are also provided.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for protecting cardiac tissue from insult. The method comprises identifying the occurrence of an insult, such as a heart attack, and delivering electrical stimulation to one or more predetermined nerves in a patient's body in response to identifying the occurrence of the insult. The stimulation may be provided to peripheral nerves, intrinsic cardiac nerves, sympathetic ganglia, cranial nerves, and may generally be directed to the vertebral column, or within the chest wall of the patient.