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Haberbusch M, Kronsteiner B, Aigner P, Kiss A, Podesser BK, Moscato F. Importance of cardiac-synchronized vagus nerve stimulation parameters on the provoked chronotropic response for different levels of cardiac innervation. Front Physiol 2024; 15:1379936. [PMID: 38835728 PMCID: PMC11148559 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2024.1379936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction The influence of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) parameters on provoked cardiac effects in different levels of cardiac innervation is not well understood yet. This study examines the effects of VNS on heart rate (HR) modulation across a spectrum of cardiac innervation states, providing data for the potential optimization of VNS in cardiac therapies. Materials and Methods Utilizing previously published data from VNS experiments on six sheep with intact innervation, and data of additional experiments in five rabbits post bilateral rostral vagotomy, and four isolated rabbit hearts with additionally removed sympathetic influences, the study explored the impact of diverse VNS parameters on HR. Results Significant differences in physiological threshold charges were identified across groups: 0.09 ± 0.06 μC for intact, 0.20 ± 0.04 μC for vagotomized, and 9.00 ± 0.75 μC for isolated hearts. Charge was a key determinant of HR reduction across all innervation states, with diminishing correlations from intact (r = 0.7) to isolated hearts (r = 0.44). An inverse relationship was observed for the number of pulses, with its influence growing in conditions of reduced innervation (intact r = 0.11, isolated r = 0.37). Frequency and stimulation delay showed minimal correlations (r < 0.17) in all conditions. Conclusion Our study highlights for the first time that VNS parameters, including stimulation intensity, pulse width, and pulse number, crucially modulate heart rate across different cardiac innervation states. Intensity and pulse width significantly influence heart rate in innervated states, while pulse number is key in denervated states. Frequency and delay have less impact impact across all innervation states. These findings suggest the importance of customizing VNS therapy based on innervation status, offering insights for optimizing cardiac neuromodulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max Haberbusch
- Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Cardiovascular Research, Vienna, Austria
| | - Bettina Kronsteiner
- Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Cardiovascular Research, Vienna, Austria
- Center for Biomedical Research and Translational Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Philipp Aigner
- Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Cardiovascular Research, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Attila Kiss
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Cardiovascular Research, Vienna, Austria
- Center for Biomedical Research and Translational Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Bruno Karl Podesser
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Cardiovascular Research, Vienna, Austria
- Center for Biomedical Research and Translational Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Francesco Moscato
- Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Cardiovascular Research, Vienna, Austria
- Austrian Cluster for Tissue Regeneration, Vienna, Austria
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Blanz SL, Musselman ED, Settell ML, Knudsen BE, Nicolai EN, Trevathan JK, Verner RS, Begnaud J, Skubal AC, Suminski AJ, Williams JC, Shoffstall AJ, Grill WM, Pelot NA, Ludwig KA. Spatially selective stimulation of the pig vagus nerve to modulate target effect versus side effect. J Neural Eng 2023; 20:10.1088/1741-2552/acb3fd. [PMID: 36649655 PMCID: PMC10339030 DOI: 10.1088/1741-2552/acb3fd] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Electrical stimulation of the cervical vagus nerve using implanted electrodes (VNS) is FDA-approved for the treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy, treatment-resistant depression, and most recently, chronic ischemic stroke rehabilitation. However, VNS is critically limited by the unwanted stimulation of nearby neck muscles-a result of non-specific stimulation activating motor nerve fibers within the vagus. Prior studies suggested that precise placement of small epineural electrodes can modify VNS therapeutic effects, such as cardiac responses. However, it remains unclear if placement can alter the balance between intended effect and limiting side effect. We used an FDA investigational device exemption approved six-contact epineural cuff to deliver VNS in pigs and quantified how epineural electrode location impacts on- and off-target VNS activation. Detailed post-mortem histology was conducted to understand how the underlying neuroanatomy impacts observed functional responses. Here we report the discovery and characterization of clear neuroanatomy-dependent differences in threshold and saturation for responses related to both effect (change in heart rate) and side effect (neck muscle contractions). The histological and electrophysiological data were used to develop and validate subject-specific computation models of VNS, creating a well-grounded quantitative framework to optimize electrode location-specific activation of nerve fibers governing intended effect versus unwanted side effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephan L Blanz
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States of America
- Wisconsin Institute for Translational Neuroengineering (WITNe), Madison, WI, United States of America
- University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, United States of America
| | - Eric D Musselman
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States of America
| | - Megan L Settell
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States of America
- Wisconsin Institute for Translational Neuroengineering (WITNe), Madison, WI, United States of America
| | - Bruce E Knudsen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States of America
- Wisconsin Institute for Translational Neuroengineering (WITNe), Madison, WI, United States of America
| | - Evan N Nicolai
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States of America
- Wisconsin Institute for Translational Neuroengineering (WITNe), Madison, WI, United States of America
- Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Rochester, MN, United States of America
- Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States of America
| | - James K Trevathan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States of America
- Wisconsin Institute for Translational Neuroengineering (WITNe), Madison, WI, United States of America
| | - Ryan S Verner
- LivaNova USA Inc., Houston, TX, United States of America
| | - Jason Begnaud
- LivaNova USA Inc., Houston, TX, United States of America
| | - Aaron C Skubal
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States of America
- Wisconsin Institute for Translational Neuroengineering (WITNe), Madison, WI, United States of America
| | - Aaron J Suminski
- Wisconsin Institute for Translational Neuroengineering (WITNe), Madison, WI, United States of America
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States of America
| | - Justin C Williams
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States of America
- Wisconsin Institute for Translational Neuroengineering (WITNe), Madison, WI, United States of America
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States of America
| | - Andrew J Shoffstall
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States of America
- APT Center, Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, United States of America
| | - Warren M Grill
- University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, United States of America
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States of America
- Department of Neurobiology, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States of America
- Department of Neurosurgery, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States of America
| | - Nicole A Pelot
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States of America
| | - Kip A Ludwig
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States of America
- Wisconsin Institute for Translational Neuroengineering (WITNe), Madison, WI, United States of America
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States of America
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Haberbusch M, Kronsteiner B, Kramer AM, Kiss A, Podesser BK, Moscato F. Closed-loop vagus nerve stimulation for heart rate control evaluated in the Langendorff-perfused rabbit heart. Sci Rep 2022; 12:18794. [PMID: 36335207 PMCID: PMC9637096 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-23407-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Persistent sinus tachycardia substantially increases the risk of cardiac death. Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is known to reduce the heart rate, and hence may be a non-pharmacological alternative for the management of persistent sinus tachycardia. To precisely regulate the heart rate using VNS, closed-loop control strategies are needed. Therefore, in this work, we developed two closed-loop VNS strategies using an in-silico model of the cardiovascular system. Both strategies employ a proportional-integral controller that operates on the current amplitude. While one control strategy continuously delivers stimulation pulses to the vagus nerve, the other applies bursts of stimuli in synchronization with the cardiac cycle. Both were evaluated in Langendorff-perfused rabbit hearts (n = 6) with intact vagal innervation. The controller performance was quantified by rise time (Tr), steady-state error (SSE), and percentual overshoot amplitude (%OS). In the ex-vivo setting, the cardiac-synchronized variant resulted in Tr = 10.7 ± 4.5 s, SSE = 12.7 ± 9.9 bpm and %OS = 5.1 ± 3.6% while continuous stimulation led to Tr = 10.2 ± 5.6 s, SSE = 10 ± 6.7 bpm and %OS = 3.2 ± 1.9%. Overall, both strategies produced a satisfying and reproducible performance, highlighting their potential use in persistent sinus tachycardia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max Haberbusch
- grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria ,grid.454395.aLudwig Boltzmann Institute for Cardiovascular Research, Vienna, Austria
| | - Bettina Kronsteiner
- grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria ,grid.454395.aLudwig Boltzmann Institute for Cardiovascular Research, Vienna, Austria ,grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Center for Biomedical Research, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Anne-Margarethe Kramer
- grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Center for Biomedical Research, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Attila Kiss
- grid.454395.aLudwig Boltzmann Institute for Cardiovascular Research, Vienna, Austria ,grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Center for Biomedical Research, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Bruno K. Podesser
- grid.454395.aLudwig Boltzmann Institute for Cardiovascular Research, Vienna, Austria ,grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Center for Biomedical Research, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria ,Ludwig Boltzmann Cluster for Tissue Regeneration, Vienna, Austria
| | - Francesco Moscato
- grid.22937.3d0000 0000 9259 8492Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria ,grid.454395.aLudwig Boltzmann Institute for Cardiovascular Research, Vienna, Austria ,Ludwig Boltzmann Cluster for Tissue Regeneration, Vienna, Austria
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