Patent ID: 7630760

Claim:
A medical device, comprising: at least one neural stimulation electrode adapted to be placed proximate to a site of atherosclerosis to enable stimulation of the site of atherosclerosis or stimulation of a peripheral neural pathway that is proximate to and that innervates the site of atherosclerosis; a neural stimulator adapted to deliver an electrical signal through the at least one electrode to stimulate the site of atherosclerosis or to stimulate the peripheral neural pathway proximate to the site of atherosclerosis to provide local therapy that reduces an inflammatory response at the site of atherosclerosis; and a programmed controller, wherein the controller is programmed with a therapy for atherosclerotic plaques to control the neural stimulator to intermittently deliver stimulation through the electrode to provide local therapy that reduces the inflammatory response at the site of the atherosclerosis and to prevent plaque formation and promote stability of existing plaque.