Patent ID: 8688211

Claim:
A system for modulating a cardiovascular function in a body by stimulating a target nerve at a stimulation site in the body, the system comprising: a percutaneous neurostimulation device including: at least one percutaneous stimulation electrode configured to lodge in the stimulation site; an external neurostimulator configured to be electrically wired to the at least one percutaneous stimulation electrode to allow for delivery of electrical neurostimulation pulses percutaneously from the external stimulator to the stimulation site through the at least one percutaneous stimulation electrode, the electrical neurostimulation pulses capable of directly eliciting action potentials in the target nerve, the external neurostimulator including: a stimulation output circuit configured to deliver the electrical neurostimulation pulses; a memory circuit storing a stimulation algorithm including parameters selected to modulate the cardiovascular function; and a stimulation controller coupled to the stimulation output circuit and the memory circuit, the stimulation controller configured to control the delivery of the electrical neurostimulation pulses by executing the stimulation algorithm; and a bracing element coupled to the external neurostimulator, the bracing element configured to brace a portion of the body to hold the external neurostimulator on a surface location of the body; and a portable user communication device including a communicator communicatively coupled to the external neurostimulator via telemetry, the communicator including a user interface.