Patent ID: 11957914
Assignee: VISCARDIA, INC.
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 17:
18. An implantable medical device comprising:
a cardiac event sensor configured to be located in or on a region of a heart in proximity to a diaphragm;
an asymptomatic diaphragmatic stimulation (ADS) therapy mechanism configured to be located in proximity with the region of the heart; and
an ADS controller coupled to the cardiac event sensor and the ADS therapy mechanism, and configured to:
detect a cardiac event based on signals sensed through the cardiac event sensor; and
responsive to a detection of a cardiac event, deliver an ADS therapy to the diaphragm through the ADS therapy mechanism,

wherein the ADS therapy is configured to capture a muscle of the diaphragm to induce a transient contraction of a portion of a hemisphere of the diaphragm that is less than the entirety of the hemisphere of the diaphragm, and is delivered during a refractory period of the heart associated with the cardiac event to avoid inducing a contraction of the heart.