Cardiac neuromodulation and methods of using same

Abstract

The present invention relates in general to methodologies for the treatment quenching preconditioning and communication between the intrinsic cardiac nervous system and an electrical stimulus. In particular, the present invention utilizes spinal cord stimulation to alter and/or affect the intrinsic cardiac nervous system and thereby protect the myocytes, stabilize myocardial electrical instability and/or alleviate or diminish cardiac pathologies.

1 . A method for protecting cardiac function and reducing the impact of ischemia on the heart, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a stimulator capable of generating a predetermined electrical signal;    placing the stimulator adjacent a neural structure capable of carrying the predetermined electrical signal from the neural structure to the intrinsic cardiac nervous system; and    activating the stimulator for a predetermined period of time to generate the predetermined electrical signal to protect cardiac function and reduce the impact of ischemia on the heart.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the neural structure is a spinal cord.  
     
     
         3 . A method for treating an animal having a cardiac pathology by protecting cardiac function and reducing the impact of ischemia on the heart, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a stimulator capable of generating a predetermined electrical signal;    placing the stimulator adjacent a neural structure capable of carrying the predetermined electrical signal from the neural structure to at least one of the intrinsic cardiac nervous system and the heart; and    activating the stimulator for a predetermined period of time to generate the predetermined electrical signal to modulate at least one of the intrinsic cardiac nervous system and the heart, and thereby protecting at least one of the intrinsic cardiac nervous system and the heart to treat the cardiac pathology.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the neural structure is a spinal cord.  
     
     
         5 . A method for electrically communicating with at least one of an intrinsic cardiac nervous system and a heart, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a stimulator capable of generating a predetermined electrical signal;    placing the stimulator adjacent a neural structure capable of carrying the predetermined electrical signal from the neural structure to at least one of the intrinsic cardiac nervous system and the heart; and    activating the stimulator for a predetermined period of time to generate the predetermined electrical signal to communicate with at least one of the intrinsic cardiac nervous system and the heart.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the neural structure is a spinal cord.  
     
     
         7 . A method of modulating electrical neuronal and humoral responses of at least one of an intrinsic cardiac nervous system and a heart, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a stimulator capable of generating a predetermined electrical signal;    placing the stimulator adjacent a neural structure capable of carrying the predetermined electrical signal from the neural structure to at least one of the intrinsic cardiac nervous system and the heart; and    activating the stimulator for a predetermined period of time to thereby generate the predetermined electrical signal to modulate the electrical neuronal and humoral response of at least of the intrinsic cardiac nervous system and the heart.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the neural structure is a spinal cord.  
     
     
         9 . A method of activating spinal cord neurons to induce a conformational change in an intrinsic cardiac nervous system, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a stimulator capable of generating a predetermined electrical signal;    placing the stimulator adjacent a spinal cord to carry the predetermined electrical signal from the spinal cord to an intrinsic cardiac nervous system; and    activating the stimulator for a predetermined period of time to thereby generate the predetermined electrical signal to thereby activate spinal cord neurons in proximity of the stimulator so as to induce a conformational change in the intrinsic cardiac nervous system.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the neural structure is a spinal cord.  
     
     
         11 . A method for the prolonged activation of spinal cord neurons to induce a conformational change in an intrinsic cardiac nervous system, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a stimulator capable of generating a predetermined electrical signal;    placing the stimulator adjacent a spinal cord to carry the predetermined electrical signal from the spinal cord to an intrinsic cardiac nervous system; and    activating the stimulator for a predetermined period of time to thereby generate the predetermined electrical signal to thereby activate spinal cord neurons in proximity of the stimulator so as to induce a conformational change in the intrinsic cardiac nervous system wherein the activation effects persist for a period of time extending beyond the activation of the stimulator.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the neural structure is a spinal cord.  
     
     
         13 . A method for transiently nullifying neuronal activation of an intrinsic cardiac nervous system by myocardial ischemia, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a stimulator capable of generating a predetermined electrical signal;    placing the stimulator adjacent a neural structure capable of carrying the predetermined electrical signal from the neural structure to the intrinsic cardiac nervous system; and    activating the stimulator for a predetermined period of time to thereby generate the predetermined electrical signal to transiently nullify neuronal activation of an intrinsic cardiac nervous system by myocardial ischemia.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the neural structure is a spinal cord.  
     
     
         15 . A method for prolonged nullification of neuronal activation of an intrinsic cardiac nervous system by myocardial ischemia, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a stimulator capable of generating a predetermined electrical signal;    placing the stimulator adjacent a neural structure capable of carrying the predetermined electrical signal from the neural structure to the intrinsic cardiac nervous system; and    activating the stimulator for a predetermined period of time to thereby generate the predetermined electrical signal to nullify the neuronal activation of the intrinsic cardiac nervous system by myocardial ischemia for a prolonged period of time extending beyond stimulator activation.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the neural structure is a spinal cord.  
     
     
         17 . A method for transiently suppressing neuronal activation of an intrinsic cardiac nervous system by myocardial ischemia, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a stimulator capable of generating a predetermined electrical signal;    placing the stimulator adjacent a neural structure capable of carrying the predetermined electrical signal from the neural structure to the intrinsic cardiac nervous system; and    activating the stimulator for a predetermined period of time to thereby generate the predetermined electrical signal to transiently suppress the neuronal activation of the intrinsic cardiac nervous system by myocardial ischemia.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the neural structure is a spinal cord.  
     
     
         19 . A method for prolonged suppression of neuronal activation of an intrinsic cardiac nervous system by myocardial ischemia, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a stimulator capable of generating a predetermined electrical signal;    placing the stimulator adjacent a neural structure capable of carrying the predetermined electrical signal from the neural structure to the intrinsic cardiac nervous system; and    activating the stimulator for a predetermined period of time to thereby generate the predetermined electrical signal to suppress the neuronal activation of the intrinsic cardiac nervous system by myocardial ischemia for a prolonged period of time extending beyond stimulator activation.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the neural structure is a spinal cord.