Patent ID: 8682434

Claim:
An implantable device, comprising: a neural stimulator configured to deliver a programmed intermittent neural stimulation therapy for an extended therapy application, the programmed intermittent neural stimulation therapy including a programmed series of stimulation ON times and stimulation OFF times, each programmed stimulation ON time for the programmed intermittent neural stimulation therapy including a programmed neural stimulation burst of neural stimulation pulses, the neural stimulator including: a pulse generator configured to generate the neural stimulation pulses for the neural stimulation therapy; and a modulator to adjust the neural stimulation therapy; a feedback monitor to monitor at least one feedback parameter during stimulation ON times and during stimulation OFF times of the programmed intermittent neural stimulation therapy; a cardiac side effect monitor configured to monitor for and detect myocardial capture from the programmed intermittent neural stimulation therapy; and a controller operably connected to the feedback monitor and the cardiac side effect detector, and configured to detect a change for the at least one feedback parameter between the stimulation ON and stimulation OFF times and provide a therapy control signal to the modulator to avoid myocardial capture and achieve a desired change for the at least one feedback parameter between the stimulation ON and the stimulation OFF times of the programmed intermittent neural stimulation therapy for the extend therapy application.