(i9) United States
(12) Patent Application Publication
Moffitt et al.
US 20090149900A1
(io) Pub. No.: US 2009/0149900 Al (43) Pub. Date: Jun. 11, 2009
(54) TRANSVASCULAR NEURAL STIMULATION DEVICE
(76) Inventors: Julia Moffitt, Iowa City, IA (US);
Imad Libbus, St. Paul, MN (US)
Correspondence Address:
SCHWEGMAN, LUNDBERG & WOESSNER/
BSC-CRM
PO BOX 2938
MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55402 (US)
(21) Appl.No.: 12/371,153
(22) Filed: Feb. 13, 2009
Related U.S. Application Data
(63) Continuation of application No. 11/103,245, filed on Apr. 11, 2005, now Pat. No. 7,499,748.
Publication Classification
(51) Int. CI.
A61N1/36 (2006.01)
(52) U.S. CI 607/3; 607/116; 607/9
(57) ABSTRACT
This document discusses, among other things, apparatus, systems, and methods for transvascularly stimulation of a nerve or nerve trunk. In an example, an apparatus is configured to transvascularly stimulate a nerve trunk through a blood vessel. The apparatus includes an expandable electrode that is chronically implantable in a blood vessel proximate a nerve trunk. The expandable electrode is configured to abut a predetermined surface area of the vessel wall along a predetermined length of the vessel. An electrical lead is coupled to the expandable electrode. An implantable pulse generator is coupled to the lead and configured to deliver an electrical stimulation signal to the electrode through the lead. In an example method, an electrical signal is delivered from an implanted medical device to an electrode chronically implanted in a blood vessel proximate a nerve trunk to transvascularly deliver neural stimulation from the electrode to the nerve trunk.
