Patent ID: 8391984

Claim:
An implantable device for treatment of depression, the device comprising: a device housing; a plurality of neural stimulation electrodes disposed external to the device housing and configured and arranged to provide neural stimulation; at least one pulse generator disposed in the device housing, coupled to the plurality of neural stimulation electrodes, and configured and arranged to provide stimulation pulses to the plurality of neural stimulation electrodes; at least one heart rate electrode configured and arranged for detecting signals associated with heart rate; and sensing circuitry disposed in the device housing, coupled to the at least one heart rate electrode and to at least one of the plurality of neural stimulation electrodes, and configured and arranged to receive electrical signals from the at least one heart rate electrode and from the at least one of the plurality of neural stimulation electrodes, to analyze the heart rate from the electrical signals received from the at least one heart rate electrode, to detect parameters associated with depression based, at least in part, on the electrical signals from the plurality of neural stimulation electrodes and the at least one heart rate electrode, and to direct the at least one pulse generator to deliver stimulation pulses to at least one of the plurality of neural stimulation electrodes.