PV Loops With CNT in Multiple Pacing Sites

This will be a multi-center, pilot, open-label, non-randomized acute study. The Moderato System is approved for marketing in Europe (has a CE mark) for standard pacing and the treatment of high blood pressure in patients requiring standard cardiac pacing. The therapy delivered by the Moderato® System is referred to as CNT (Cardiac Neuromodulation Therapy).

This investigation will evaluate the effect of different pacing lead positions on cardiac function and the modulation of the autonomic nervous system using Cardiac Neuromodulation Therapy (CNT) pacing signals. The Study includes both patient who have hypertension and patients that do not have hypertension. Moderato®system is currently not indicated for patients that do not have hypertension.

Subjects indicated for an implant or replacement of a device capable of pacing (pacemaker, ICD, CRT-P, CRT-D) who meet the study inclusion and exclusion criteria may participate in the study and will undergo the following procedure during their device implantation or replacement:

A Right Atrial (RA) lead will be positioned according to standard procedure of the initially planned device implant, or kept in place (in device replacement), or only temporarily introduced and used for the trial procedure. Existing ventricular leads (if any) can be used for the trial procedure, too. The ventricular lead will be temporarily positioned in the different pacing sites according to the following order: RV septal, LBBA, LBB. Pacing and CNT will be performed in each of these sites unless the site is unreachable or pacing is not possible. When trial procedures are finished, the ventricular lead will be positioned according to best practices of the implant or replacement procedure the patient is undergoing. Any lead used temporarily would be removed.

The leads will be connected to a BackBeat Moderato® System IPG, externally to the patient, using a single use, sterile Pacing System Analyzer (PSA) cable provided by the hospital. The Moderato®IPG - which is approved for chronic CNT delivery in hypertensive patients - will function in this trial as a temporary external CNT signal generator for acute application of the therapy; it will not be in direct contact with the subject.

A standard conductance catheter (CD Leycom, The Netherlands) will be introduced through the femoral artery and advanced into the left ventricle to measure cardiac volumes and pressure.

Arterial blood pressure will be measured by introducing a pressure sensor (e.g., Millar catheter) either from another femoral artery sheath or from a radial arterial line.

Right ventricular blood pressure measurements will be taken by introducing a pressure sensor (e.g., Millar catheter) to the right ventricle through an axillary or subclavian sheath.

The Moderato®IPG will be used to generate standard pacing and Cardiac Neuromodulation Therapy (CNT) signals and deliver them to the patient through the cable and leads. A range of CNT signal parameters will be used to assess the effect on sympathetic activity at the different lead positions. Ventricular pressure and volume readings from the conductance catheter, arterial pressure readings and right ventricle pressure readings will be recorded and analyzed to assess the effect of CNT signals on cardiac function, sympathetic activity and blood pressure. The effects of CNT signal over a range of parameter settings will be studied in the different lead positions.

Simultaneous recording of the ventricular and arterial pressures, ventricular volume measurements and ECG signals will be performed in every pacing site during both pacing and CNT using the LEYCOM® Inca (IntraCardiac Analyzer) system, an integrated, stand-alone system for constant monitoring of intra-ventricular pressure and volume (CE marked).

In this study, none of the Moderato® system components will be in contact with the patient. The Moderato® IPG will be used solely as an external CNT signal generator and deliver signals to the patient through the PSA cable and the pacemaker leads.

When CNT signal activation is complete, data recording will be stopped, the conductance catheter will be removed, the cable connecting the IPG to the leads disconnected, and device implantation (or replacement) will proceed normally. Any pacing lead used temporarily would be removed if not required for ongoing patient treatment.

Patients will be considered as having completed the study at the conclusion of the acute procedure unless a safety event is observed during the acute procedure in which case the patients will be followed until the event has been resolved.