Cardiac Neuromodulation for Heart Failure

This investigation will evaluate the ability of the Moderato® System to safely and effectively deliver CNT, to reduce sympathetic activity in heart failure patients

This will be a single center, non-randomized observational study. The Moderato® System is approved for marketing in Europe (has a CE mark) for the treatment of high blood pressure in patients requiring standard cardiac pacing. The therapy delivered by the Moderato® System is referred to as CNT (Cardiac Neuromodulation Therapy). Heart failure patients is a population for which the Moderato® device is currently not indicated.

Subjects requiring an implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD) implantation or replacement and meeting study inclusion and exclusion criteria will be eligible to participate in the study. The study procedure will take place during the ICD implantation (or replacement).

The whole procedure will be performed according to standard of care for ICD implantations (or replacements) including periprocedural prophylactic antibiotics prophylactic. To reduce the time of wound exposure, the setup of system for invasive measurements will be done before the ICD implant (or replacement) procedure begins.

The groin area will be prepared and draped. After applying local anesthesia, a 7Fr sheath will be inserted into the femoral artery. A small dose of heparin (\~5000 units) will be administered intravenously to prevent formation of blood clots. Under fluoroscopic guidance, a standard conductance catheter (CD Leycom CA-71103-PL, CE marked) will be advanced into the left ventricle.

The arterial line will be used to measure arterial pressure. This completes the measuring system setup.

Then, ICD right atrial lead and right ventricular lead will be implanted in standard positions according to standard institutional practices.

The leads will be connected to a BackBeat Moderato® System IPG, externally to the patient using a single use, sterile Pacing System Analyzer (PSA) cable provided by the hospital. The Moderato® IPG, approved for chronic CNT delivery in hypertensive patients, will function in this trial as a temporary external CNT signal generator for acute application of the therapy.

A range of CNT signal parameters will be used to assess the effect on sympathetic activity. Ventricular pressure and volume readings from the conductance catheter and arterial pressure readings will be recorded and analyzed to assess the effect of CNT signals on cardiac function, sympathetic activity and blood pressure. The effects of CNT signal over a range of parameter settings will be studied over a period of time no longer than one hour.

In this study, none of the Moderato® system components will be in contact with the patient. The Moderato® IPG will be used solely as an external CNT signal generator and deliver signals to the patient through the PSA cable and the ICD leads.

When CNT signal activation is complete, data recording will be stopped, the conductance catheter will be removed, the cable connecting the IPG to the leads disconnected, and ICD implantation will proceed normally.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Subject is ≥ 18 years of age
2. Subject has a primary indication and is scheduled for ICD implantation or replacement
3. Subject has heart failure NYHA Class II or III

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Subject is to receive a single chamber defibrillator
2. Subject has an ejection fraction of 25% or less
3. Subject's systolic blood pressure is less than 120 mm Hg on the day of implant
4. Subject has decompensated heart failure
5. Subject has significant (\>2+) mitral regurgitation, aortic regurgitation or aortic stenosis.
6. Subject has permanent atrial fibrillation
7. Subject has atrial fibrillation on the day of the study.
8. Subject has hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, restrictive cardiomyopathy or interventricular septal thickness ≥15 mm
9. Subject has a history of prior neurological events (stroke or TIA) within the past year or a neurological event (stroke or TIA) at any prior time that has resulted in residual neurologic deficit.
10. Subject has a history of autonomic dysfunction
11. Women who are pregnant or breast-feeding
12. Subject cannot or is unwilling to provide informed consent.