Baroreflex Therapy for Disordered Breathing

Abstract

A method is provided for treating respiration conditions of a patient. The method comprises monitoring or measuring a respiration parameter indicative of a need to modify activity of a baroreflex system of the patient, and controlling a baroreceptor activation device to cause or modify activation of a baroreflex response of the patient in response to the monitoring or measuring of the respiration parameter.

1 . A method for treating disordered breathing in a patient, comprising delivering electrical stimulation therapy that modifies a patient's baroreflex response to treat the disordered breathing.  
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein delivering the electrical stimulation therapy modifying the patient's baroreflex response comprises delivering the electrical stimulation therapy to treat apnea.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein delivering the electrical stimulation therapy modifying the patient's baroreflex response comprises electrically stimulating one or more baroreceptor sites.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein delivering the electrical stimulation therapy modifying the patient's baroreflex response comprises delivering the electrical stimulation therapy modifying the patient's baroreflex response based on circadian rhythm.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein delivering the electrical stimulation therapy modifying the patient's baroreflex response comprises: 
 generating a circadian rhythm template; and    modulating the electrical stimulation based on the circadian rhythm template.    
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein generating the circadian rhythm template comprises generating the circadian rhythm template based on a cardiovascular parameter.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein generating the circadian rhythm template comprises generating the circadian rhythm template based on a parameter selected from the group consisting of arterial pressure, heart rate, stroke volume, cardiac output, and total peripheral resistance.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein delivering electrical stimulation therapy modifying the patient's baroreflex response comprises modulating a parameter of the electrical stimulation therapy.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the parameter is selected from the group consisting of electrical stimulation frequency, electrical stimulation amplitude, and electrical stimulation burst frequency.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein delivering the electrical stimulation therapy modifying the patient's baroreflex response comprises delivering the electrical stimulation modifying the patient's baroreflex response to mimic a natural circadian rhythm.  
   
   
       11 . A disordered breathing therapy system, comprising: 
 one or more electrodes configured to deliver an electrical stimulation signal to a region associated with a patient's baroreflex response; and    a pulse generator coupled to the one or more electrodes, the pulse generator configured to control delivery of an electrical stimulation therapy using the one or more electrodes, the electrical stimulation therapy modifying a patient's baroreflex response to treat disordered breathing.    
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the pulse generator is configured to treat apnea.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the pulse generator is configured to modulate one or more parameters of the electrical stimulation therapy modifying a patient's baroreflex response to treat disordered breathing.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the one or more parameters is selected from the group consisting of stimulation frequency, stimulation amplitude, and stimulation burst frequency.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the pulse generator is configured to modulate the electrical stimulation therapy modifying the patient's baroreflex response to mimic a circadian rhythm.  
   
   
       16 . A system for treating disordered breathing in a patient, comprising: 
 means for delivering electrical stimulation to one or more regions associated with a patient's baroreflex response; and    means for controlling delivery of the electrical stimulation to modify a patient's baroreflex response to treat the disordered breathing.    
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising means for modulating the electrical stimulation therapy to mimic a circadian rhythm.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising means for generating a circadian rhythm template and means for modulating the electrical stimulation therapy using the circadian rhythm template.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising means for modulating one or more parameters of the electrical stimulation.  
   
   
       20 . A method for treating respiration conditions of a patient comprising: 
 monitoring or measuring a respiration parameter indicative of a need to modify activity of a baroreflex system of the patient; and    controlling a baroreceptor activation device to cause or modify activation of a baroreflex response of the patient in response to the monitoring or measuring of the respiration parameter.    
   
   
       21 . A respiration therapy system, comprising: 
 one or more baroreceptor activation devices configured to electrically activate a patient's baroreflex system; and    a driver coupled to the one or more baroreceptor activation devices, the driver configured to selectively deliver an electrical control signal to the baroreceptor activation device, the electrical control signal causing or modifying activation of a baroreflex response of the patient to treat respiration conditions.    
   
   
       22 . A system for treating a respiration condition in a patient, comprising: 
 means for electrically activating a patient's baroreceptors; and    means for selectively delivering an electrical control signal to the means for electrically activating a patient's baroreceptors, the electrical control signal causing or modifying activation of a baroreflex response of the patient to treat respiration conditions.