Patent ID: 8504161

Claim:
A device for controlling an inflammatory condition, comprising: a plurality of electrodes for sensing an electrical signal and for delivering electrical stimulation pulses; a sensing module for receiving the electrical signal from the plurality of electrodes; a pulse generator coupled to the plurality of electrodes for delivering the electrical stimulation pulses to modulate vagal nerve signals; and a controller coupled to the sensing module and the pulse generator and configured to: determine an inflammation metric from the sensed electrical signal; compare the metric to an inflammation detection threshold; and control the pulse generator to deliver the electrical stimulation pulses in response to the metric meeting the inflammation detection threshold to modulate the vagal nerve signals to cause an anti-inflammatory response, wherein the plurality of electrodes comprise electrodes positioned along a vagal nerve, the controller further configured to: control the pulse generator to deliver a stimulating pulse to the vagal nerve, receive an indirect compound action potential signal sensed by the sensing module responsive to the stimulating pulse, measure a time interval between the stimulating pulse and the received action potential signal, and determine the inflammation metric using the measured time interval.