Patent ID: 8744586

Claim:
A system, comprising: a means for measuring blood pressure of a patient; a means for measuring heart rate of the patient; an implantable baroreflex activation device including an electrode, the implantable baroreflex activation device configured to be implanted such that the electrode is in contact with a blood vessel of the patient; and a control system coupled to the means for measuring blood pressure, the means for measuring heart rate, and the implantable baroreflex activation device, the control system including predetermined ranges for each of blood pressure, heart rate and blood vessel properties, the control system programmed to automatically: determine an impedance of the blood vessel with the electrode; determine one or more blood vessel properties based on the impedance of the blood vessel; determine a blood pressure based on the means for measuring blood pressure; determine a heart rate based on the means for measuring heart rate; and activate, deactivate or otherwise modulate the baroreflex activation device to deliver a first baroreflex therapy in response to each of the blood pressure, the heart rate and the blood vessel properties being within the respective predetermined ranges, and deliver a second baroreflex therapy in response to one or more of the blood pressure, the heart rate and the blood vessel properties being outside the respective predetermined ranges.