Patent ID: 8594794

Claim:
A method for treating a patient, comprising: activating a baroreflex system of the patient with a baroreflex activation device according to a baroreflex activation therapy, the therapy stored within a control system coupled to the baroreflex activation device; establishing an initial target value for a physiological parameter of the patient; monitoring the physiological parameter; using the control system to determine whether the value of the physiological parameter has changed and if so, automatically performing the following steps with the control system: determining whether the value of the physiological parameter has increased or decreased as compared to the initial target value of the physiological parameter; determining a magnitude of the change of the physiological parameter; and determining a rate of change of the physiological parameter over a period of time; and adjusting the baroreflex activation therapy in response to at least one of the magnitude of the change of the monitored parameter or the rate of change of the monitored physiological parameter.