Patent ID: 7778707

Claim:
An implantable cardiac device, comprising: one or more pulse generators for connecting to electrodes and selectively outputting pacing pulses to an electrode incorporated into a pacing channel or inotropic stimulation to an electrode incorporated into an inotropic stimulation channel; a controller programmed to deliver pacing pulses through a pacing channel and inotropic stimulation through an inotropic stimulation channel in accordance with a programmed pacing mode; wherein the controller is programmed to configure a first electrode disposed at a first myocardial region in a pre-excitation pacing channel and to configure a second electrode disposed at second myocardial region remotely located from the first myocardial region in an inotropic stimulation channel; wherein the controller is programmed to operate in a pre-excitation mode that includes, during a cardiac cycle, delivering pre-excitation pacing pulses through the pre-excitation pacing channel in a manner that pre-excites the first myocardial region relative to the second myocardial region and subsequently delivering inotropic stimulation to the second myocardial region; and, wherein the controller is programmed to intermittently interchange the first and second electrodes in the pre-excitation and inotropic stimulation channels so as to alternately stress and de-stress the first and second myocardial regions.