초록 ▼

A device for treating patients suffering from congestive heart failure includes an implantable neurostimulator for stimulating the patient's vagus nerve at or above the cardiac branch with an electrical pulse waveform at a stimulating rate sufficient to maintain the patient's heart beat at a rate we

A device for treating patients suffering from congestive heart failure includes an implantable neurostimulator for stimulating the patient's vagus nerve at or above the cardiac branch with an electrical pulse waveform at a stimulating rate sufficient to maintain the patient's heart beat at a rate well below the patient's normal resting heart rate, thereby allowing rest and recovery of the heart muscle, to increase in coronary blood flow, and/or growth of coronary capillaries. A metabolic need sensor detects the patient's current physical state and concomitantly supplies a control signal to the neurostimulator to vary the stimulating rate. If the detection indicates a state of rest, the neurostimulator rate reduces the patient's heart rate below the patient's normal resting rate. If the detection indicates physical exertion, the neurostimulator rate increases the patient's heart rate above the normal resting rate.

대표청구항 ▼

A device for treating patients suffering from congestive heart failure includes an implantable neurostimulator for stimulating the patient's vagus nerve at or above the cardiac branch with an electrical pulse waveform at a stimulating rate sufficient to maintain the patient's heart beat at a rate we

A device for treating patients suffering from congestive heart failure includes an implantable neurostimulator for stimulating the patient's vagus nerve at or above the cardiac branch with an electrical pulse waveform at a stimulating rate sufficient to maintain the patient's heart beat at a rate well below the patient's normal resting heart rate, thereby allowing rest and recovery of the heart muscle, to increase in coronary blood flow, and/or growth of coronary capillaries. A metabolic need sensor detects the patient's current physical state and concomitantly supplies a control signal to the neurostimulator to vary the stimulating rate. If the detection indicates a state of rest, the neurostimulator rate reduces the patient's heart rate below the patient's normal resting rate. If the detection indicates physical exertion, the neurostimulator rate increases the patient's heart rate above the normal resting rate. ial sufficient to initially maintain a generally L shape to said supporting structure and to said adhering tape structure. 2. The non-invasive, electrooptical sensor probe of claim 1 wherein said L-shaped support structure includes integrally formed legs of unequal length. 3. The non-invasive, electrooptical sensor probe of claim 1 wherein said probe further includes a removable liner covering said outer surface of said support structure. 4. The non-invasive, electrooptical sensor probe of claim 1 further including a leveling pad structure including a notched end for receiving and surrounding said inwardly extending photo-sensor. 5. The non-invasive, electrooptical sensor probe of claim 1 wherein said laminate tape structure includes a first tape layer and a second tape layer and defining a pocket therebetween. 6. The non-invasive, electrooptical sensor probe of claim 5 wherein said positioning element is adhesively located in said pocket between said first and second tape layers. 7. The non-invasive, electrooptical sensor probe of claim 5 further including a leveling pad structure is adhesively located in said pocket between said first and second layers and arranged to minimize stray light received by said photo-senor. 8. The non-invasive, electrooptical sensor probe of claim 5 wherein said light source and said photo-sensor are each adhesively located in said pocket between said first and said second tape layers. 9. A method of pre-testing a non-invasive, electrooptical sensor probe comprising the steps of: providing a probe having a flexible, initially L-shaped, web-like, support structure containing substantially parallel, oppositely facing outer and inner surfaces, said inner surface including an adhesive coating, said probe further including a light source and a photo-sensor positioned to receive light emitted from said light source, and a removable liner covering said support structure and extending beyond said support structure to provide ends for temporary attachment to one another; drawing said ends from said initial L shape towards one another; temporarily attaching said ends together to form a tear drop loop therebetween; and temporarily inserting a blood-perfused portion of flesh for pre-testing measurement of light extinction.