Patent ID: 8706223

Claim:
A device for use in treating a patient using vagal stimulation comprising: monitoring apparatus configured to monitor physiological parameters of a patient, wherein the monitoring apparatus comprises at least one electrode to monitor the electrical activity of the patient's heart; a sensing module coupled to the monitoring apparatus and configured to receive the monitored physiological parameters; a therapy delivery module configured to deliver electrical stimulation to the patient's vagus nerve; and a control module coupled to the sensing module and to the therapy delivery module and configured to: determine an increased risk of myocardial infarction or myocardial ischemia using the monitored physiological parameters, determine an increase in sympathetic activity using the monitored physiological parameters, and initiate delivery of preventative electrical stimulation to the patient's vagus nerve upon at least one indication of an increase in sympathetic activity and if an increased risk of myocardial infarction or myocardial ischemia is determined to decrease at least one of workload and inflammation of the patient's heart.