An implantable device (11) for providing electrical stimulation of cervical vagus nerves (15. 16, 61) for treatment of chronic cardiac dysfunction with bounded titration is provided. A stimulation therapy lead (13) includes helical electrodes (14) configured to conform to an outer diameter of a cervical vagus nerve sheath, and a set of connector pins (28) electrically connected to the helical electrodes (14). A neurostimulator (12) includes an electrical receptacle (25) into which the connector pins (28) are securely and electrically coupled. The neurostimulator (12) includes a pulse generator configured to therapeutically stimulate the vagus nerve (15, 16, 61) through the helical electrodes (14) in alternating cycles of stimuli application and stimuli inhibition (90) that are tuned to both efferently activate the hearts intrinsic nervous system and afferently activate the patients central reflexes by triggering bi-directional action potentials. The neurostimulator (12) includes an integrated leadless heart rate sensor (31) configured to sense heart rate and alter the triggering in response to the sensed heart rate falling outside a predetermined range.
