How to encode arterial pressure into carotid sinus nerve to invoke natural baroreflex

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to develop an artificial baroreceptor that was capable of invoking the "natural" baroreflex by electrically stimulating the afferent nerve. In six anesthetized, vagotomized dogs, we first identified, using the white-noise method, the transfer function from carotid sinus pressure to aortic pressure (HCSP.AoP) and that from the electrical carotid sinus nerve stimulation to aortic pressure (HCSN.AoP). We then backcalculated the transfer function required for the artificial baroreceptor (HCSP.CSN) as the ratio of HCSP.AoP to HCSN.AoP. To activate the artificial baroreceptor, we electrically stimulated the carotid sinus nerve with the frequency-modulated pulse train obtained in real time by convolving the impulse response of HCSP.CSN with instantaneous aortic pressure. We tested performance of the artificial baroreceptor by imposing random changes in blood volume. The pressure-stabilizing effects of the artificial baroreceptor were indistinguishable from those of the native one. We conclude that the artificial baroreceptor can invoke the natural baroreflex. The proposed framework generally would be applicable to interface artificial devices with the central nervous system.