Information for the public
The procedure
The procedure
The procedure is usually done with the patient under general anaesthesia or sedation.
A small battery-powered device is implanted under the skin of the collarbone. It is connected by a thin wire to an electrode, which is attached to part of an artery in the neck (a carotid sinus). This area contains baroreceptors, which are sensitive to changes in blood pressure. When stimulated by electrical impulses from the device, the baroreceptors help the body to lower blood pressure. An earlier version of the device used 2 electrodes.
The device is tested to check that it's in the correct place and working properly. It is usually activated by clinic staff about a month after it has been implanted. At follow‑up appointments in hospital the clinic staff can change the settings or turn the device off if necessary.