US 12,239,839 B2
Methods and apparatus to stimulate the heart
Howard Levin, Teaneck, NJ (US); and Mark Gelfand, New York, NY (US)
Assigned to BackBeat Medical, LLC, New Hope, PA (US)
Filed by BackBeat Medical, LLC, New Hope, PA (US)
Filed on Aug. 9, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/446,671.
Application 18/446,671 is a continuation of application No. 17/361,774, filed on Jun. 29, 2021, granted, now 11,759,639.
Application 17/361,774 is a continuation of application No. 16/359,218, filed on Mar. 20, 2019, granted, now 11,083,894, issued on Aug. 10, 2021.
Application 16/359,218 is a continuation of application No. 15/628,870, filed on Jun. 21, 2017, granted, now 10,252,060, issued on Apr. 9, 2019.
Application 15/628,870 is a continuation of application No. 15/163,078, filed on May 24, 2016, granted, now 9,731,136, issued on Aug. 15, 2017.
Application 15/163,078 is a continuation of application No. 13/688,978, filed on Nov. 29, 2012, granted, now 9,370,661, issued on Jun. 21, 2016.
Application 13/688,978 is a continuation of application No. 12/555,389, filed on Sep. 8, 2009, granted, now 8,340,763, issued on Dec. 25, 2012.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/095,120, filed on Sep. 8, 2008.
Prior Publication US 2024/0033517 A1, Feb. 1, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61N 1/362 (2006.01); A61N 1/36 (2006.01); A61N 1/365 (2006.01); A61N 1/368 (2006.01)
CPC A61N 1/36117 (2013.01) [A61N 1/3621 (2013.01); A61N 1/3627 (2013.01); A61N 1/36542 (2013.01); A61N 1/36564 (2013.01); A61N 1/368 (2013.01); A61N 1/3684 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A device for controlling heart contraction to reduce blood pressure, the device comprising:
at least one electrically conductive lead configured to connect to a heart of a patient;
an electrical pulse generator connectable to the at least one electrically conductive lead and configured to:
allow for a first ventricular contraction of a ventricle of the heart,
apply first atrial pacing to the heart after an expiration of an atrial refractory period of the heart and during a ventricular refractory period of the heart, so as to cause an atrial contraction that does not propagate to a ventricular contraction and that causes a vasodilation and an atrial natriuretic peptide release in the heart,
monitor for a spontaneous heart beat after application of the first atrial pacing, and
apply second atrial pacing if a predetermined delay after the first ventricular contraction is longer than a predetermined period corresponding to a lowest selected heart rate,
wherein the second atrial pacing generates a second ventricular contraction.