Patent ID: 8560061
Filing Date: 2013-10-15
Classification: A61N

Abstract:
1. A nerve stimulation apparatus comprising: a heartbeat detection unit that detects a heartbeat; a nerve electrode that is connected to a nerve controlling a heart; a nerve stimulation unit that outputs an electrical pulse to the nerve electrode; a functional-status detection unit that detects in-vivo information that indicates a functional status of the heart; a stimulation-timing controller that controls the nerve stimulation unit so as to switch between a synchronous mode in which the electrical pulse is output in synchronization with the heartbeat detected by the heartbeat detection unit and an asynchronous mode in which the electrical pulses are output at constant time intervals, on the basis of the in-vivo information that indicates the functional status of the heart detected by the functional-status detection unit; an organ-status detection unit that detects in-vivo information that indicates the organ status of the heart; and a stimulation-frequency controller that controls the nerve stimulation unit so as to switch between a high frequency mode in which a plurality of the electrical pulses are output and a low-frequency mode in which the electrical pulses are output at a frequency lower than that in the high frequency mode, on the basis of the in-vivo information that indicates the organ status of the heart detected by the organ-status detection unit.