Patent ID: 8209033

Claim:
A stimulation system for regulating fluid volume in a body having a cardiovascular system including a superior vena cava, an inferior vena cava, a pulmonary vein, a right atrium, and a left atrium by stimulating volume receptors distributed in the cardiovascular system in or near one or more of a junction of the superior vena and the right atrium, a junction of the inferior vena cava and the right atrium, and a junction of the pulmonary vein and the left atrium, the volume receptors being low-pressure baroreceptors sensing blood volume in the body, the system comprising: a stimulation device configured to deliver stimulation to the volume receptors; a fluid volume sensor configured to sense a volume signal indicative of a level of fluid retention in the body; and a stimulation controller coupled to the stimulation device and the fluid volume sensor, the stimulation controller programmed to control the delivery of the stimulation using the volume signal and one or more stimulation parameters selected to induce diuresis while preventing desensitization of the volume receptors.