Closed-loop heart rate regulation based on medulla stimulation

Abstract

Cardiovasular diseases are often accompanied with the dysfunctions of autonomic nervous system. Cardiac neuromodulation including vagus nerve stimulation have emerged as alternative therapies by restoring sympatho-vagal balance. In this work, a medulla stimulation strategy was developed to precisely regulate the heart rate. The stimulation parameters effecting on cardiac function were assessed in open-loop experiments. The cardiac effects of rostral and caudal medulla stimulation were enhanced with increased stimulus frequency. We further investigated whether medulla stimulation can temporarily regulate the heart rate at predetermined levels using on-off closed-loop control. Additionally, we tested the capacity of medullary stimulation to rebalance autonomic function under peripheral imbalance conditions caused by dobutamine and neostigmine administration. The performance of heart rate regulation was quantified by the control degree and root mean squared error. The results demonstrate the feasibility of medulla stimulation for regulating sympathetic activity, emphasizing its potential therapeutic use in cardiac disorders.