US 12,440,653 B2
Methods and apparatus to increase secretion of endogenous naturetic hormones
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 Jan. 9, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/151,574.
Application 18/151,574 is a continuation of application No. 16/453,311, filed on Jun. 26, 2019, granted, now 11,577,059.
Application 16/453,311 is a continuation of application No. 15/613,344, filed on Jun. 5, 2017, granted, now 10,369,333, issued on Aug. 6, 2019.
Application 15/613,344 is a continuation of application No. 13/960,015, filed on Aug. 6, 2013, granted, now 9,687,636, issued on Jun. 27, 2017.
Application 13/960,015 is a continuation of application No. 13/426,068, filed on Mar. 21, 2012, granted, now 8,521,280, issued on Aug. 27, 2013.
Application 13/426,068 is a continuation of application No. 11/276,461, filed on Mar. 1, 2006, granted, now 8,165,674, issued on Apr. 24, 2012.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/678,220, filed on May 6, 2005.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/657,389, filed on Mar. 2, 2005.
Prior Publication US 2023/0233817 A1, Jul. 27, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61M 25/10 (2013.01); A61M 29/00 (2006.01); A61N 1/36 (2006.01); A61N 1/362 (2006.01); A61N 1/368 (2006.01); A61N 1/372 (2006.01)
CPC A61M 25/10181 (2013.11) [A61M 25/10 (2013.01); A61M 25/1018 (2013.01); A61M 25/10184 (2013.11); A61M 29/00 (2013.01); A61N 1/36117 (2013.01); A61N 1/3627 (2013.01); A61N 1/368 (2013.01); A61N 1/37235 (2013.01); A61M 2025/102 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A programmable implantable pacemaker connectable to at least one electrically conductive lead for connecting to a heart of a patient suffering from a condition comprising at least one of hypertension, excessive fluid retention, or excessive sodium retention,
wherein the pacemaker is programmed to:
during a first pacing period, facilitate a synchronous pace of at least one atrium and at least one ventricle of the patient's heart;
during a second pacing period, asynchronously pace the at least one atrium of the patient's heart at an atrial pacing rate and synchronously pace the at least one ventricle of the patient's heart at a ventricular pacing rate, such that the atrial pacing rate exceeds the ventricular pacing rate,
wherein during the pacing of the second pacing period, a wall of the at least one atrium is stressed beyond a natural stress condition due to the atrial pacing rate,
wherein the stressed wall secretes a hormone at an elevated secretion level above a secretion level occurring while a natural atrial rate and a natural ventricular rate are equal,
wherein the elevated secretion level of the secreted hormone achieves a beneficial therapeutic effect in the patient, and
wherein the beneficial therapeutic effect includes at least one of: limiting a degree of vasoconstriction, limiting a degree of sodium retention, increasing urine output, inhibiting a renin-angiotensin system, inhibiting endothelin secretion, inhibiting systemic and renal sympathetic activity, or counteracting effects of at least one of norepinephrine, endothelin, or angiotensin II; and
repeatedly alternate the first pacing period and the second pacing period to pace the patient's heart, wherein each alternating second pacing period has a duration of at least ten minutes.