Patent ID: 8874207
Filing Date: 2014-10-28
Classification: A61N

Abstract:
1. A method for operating an implantable medical device to stimulate at least one stimulation site in a body having a heart, the at least one stimulation site remote from the heart, the method comprising: detecting an end of a cardiac ischemic event; producing a cardioprotective stimulation signal in response to a detection of the end of the cardiac ischemic event; timing a cardioprotective stimulation sequence in response to the cardioprotective stimulation signal, the cardioprotective stimulation sequence including alternating stimulation and non-stimulation periods, the stimulation periods each having a stimulation duration during which one or more non-cardiac stimuli are delivered, the non-stimulation periods each having a non-stimulation duration during which no non-cardiac stimulus is delivered; and delivering the one or more non-cardiac stimuli from the implantable medical device to the at least one stimulation site remote from the heart during each of the stimulation period, the one or more non-cardiac stimuli creating a physiologic stress at the at least one stimulation site without causing myocardial contraction in the heart, the physiologic stress capable of eliciting a cardioprotective effect that protects the heart from tissue damage caused by cardiac ischemia.