Abstract: An implantable medical device system is provided with multiple medical devices implanted in a patient's body and a wireless mesh communication network providing multiple communication pathways between the multiple medical devices. A communication pathway between a first and a second implanted device of the multiple medical devices can comprise one or more of the other implanted multiple medical devices.

Abstract: A cardiac rhythm management (CRM) system includes an implantable medical device that delivers anti-tachyarrhythmia therapies including ATP. When a tachyarrhythmia episode is detected, the implantable medical device analyzes the morphology of a cardiac signal to determine whether and/or when to deliver an ATP therapy. In various embodiments, the implantable medical device produces morphological parameters indicative of the likeliness of success of the ATP therapy and selects an anti-tachyarrhythmia therapy mode based on the morphological parameters. In various embodiments, the implantable medical device also controls the timing of the ATP therapy delivery using morphological features of the cardiac signal to maximize the probability that the ATP therapy is delivered into an ATP window during which a tachyarrhythmia episode can be effectively terminated by pacing.

Abstract: Electrodes for tissue stimulation and sensing can comprise a support with nanostructures disposed on the support. Pairs of the electrodes can be placed in close proximity to one another. When electrical energy is supplied to the electrodes, an electrical field (and possibly an electrical current) can be established between the nanostructures on the electrodes. The nanostructures may have cells disposed thereon, for example myocardial cells, myocardial progenitor cells, neural cells and/or stem cells. In addition, the electrodes can be arranged in arrays.

Abstract: A system and method for painlessly calculating an estimated defibrillation threshold, such as by using an implantable medical device and a controller. The estimated defibrillation threshold can be calculated using a delivered first energy to a first thoracic location, an electric field detected at a second thoracic location, and an electric field detected between a third thoracic location and a fourth thoracic location. The estimated defibrillation threshold represents an energy that, when delivered at the first thoracic location, can create an electric field strength in a target region of the heart that meets or exceeds a target electric field strength.

Abstract: Hemodynamic signals, such as photoplethysmography (PPG) signals, pressure signals, and impedance signals, are sampled once per cyclical body cycle to reduce the amount of data, processing and/or power required to analyze the hemodynamic signals.

Abstract: An implantable cardiac stimulation device promotes intrinsic activity of a heart during demand pacing. The device increases the time and probability of an AV delay interval extension. The device may further increase the AV delay interval from a first extended AV delay interval to a longer second extended AV delay interval. The device may further encourage intrinsic AV conduction in patients with intact AV conduction by allowing multiple cycles during a search interval and multiple search times to further encourage intrinsic conduction from the atrium to the ventricle.

Abstract: An artificial heart pump system has a heart pump implanted in a patient. A pump control unit worn by a patient includes a programmable device for adapting a secure aspect of heart pump operation in response to pump operating commands. The pump control unit has a wired interface and a wireless interface. A clinical external unit is adapted to be connected to the wired interface for delivering a pump operating command to the pump control unit. An auxiliary external unit is adapted to be connected to the wireless interface for collecting patient and/or pump system performance-related data from the pump control unit. The wireless interface is unable to consummate a pump operating command.

Abstract: Methods and devices configured for analyzing sensing vectors in an implantable cardiac stimulus system. In an illustrative example, a first sensing vector is analyzed to determine whether it is suitable, within given threshold conditions, for use in cardiac event detection and analysis. If so, the first sensing vector may be selected for detection and analysis. Otherwise, and in other examples, one or more additional sensing vectors are analyzed. A polynomial may be used during analysis to generate a metric indicating the suitability of the sensing vector for use in cardiac event detection and analysis. Additional illustrative examples include systems and devices adapted to perform at least these methods, including implantable medical devices, and/or programmers for implantable medical devices, and/or systems having both programmers and implantable medical devices that cooperatively analyze sensing vectors.

Abstract: A device for modulating a volume of neural tissue comprising: a cannula having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending to at least the distal end, an actuator mechanism at least partially disposed in the lumen of the cannula; a plurality of leads having at least one electrode disposed thereon, the plurality of leads being coupled to the actuator mechanism to reciprocate between a retracted position wherein the plurality of leads are radially constrained within the lumen and an extended position; and a guide provided at the distal end of the cannula to deflect the plurality of leads radially outwardly into the neural tissue when the actuator mechanism is moved to the extended position.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting and/or treating nervous system disorders, such as seizures. Certain embodiments of the invention relate generally to implantable medical devices (IMDs) adapted to detect and treat nervous system disorders in patients with an IMD. Certain embodiments of the invention include detection of seizures based upon comparisons of long-term and short-term representations of physiological signals. Other embodiments include prediction of seizure activity based upon analysis of physiological signal levels. An embodiment of the invention monitors the quality of physiological signals, and may be able to compensate for signals of low signal quality. A further embodiment of the invention includes detection of seizure activity following the delivery of therapy.

Abstract: A user may modify a stimulation parameter in a plurality of stimulation programs with a single adjustment. During stimulation therapy, the user, such as a patient, may desire to change a parameter of the plurality of stimulation programs. The patient may press a single button on an external programmer to make the parameter change, or global adjustment, to all of the plurality of stimulation programs. This global adjustment eliminates the need for the patient to navigate through each of the plurality of stimulation programs separately and adjust the parameter. Additionally, changing the plurality of stimulation programs may be desirable for uniform stimulation therapy between programs used by the patient. The external programmer may calculate an appropriate parameter change for each stimulation program to keep parameter ratios equal between the plurality of stimulation programs.

Abstract: Waveform analysis is used to identify and distinguish components of a sensed input signal, such as P-wave and Far Field R-wave signal components present in a sensed cardiac signal, even when the components are so closely spaced in time that the overlap to create a distorted input signal. A set of composite waveforms are generated by superimposing waveform templates of the signal components with different time delays or degree of overlap. Form parameters for each composite waveform are derived and mapped in a multidimensional map, from which form parameter boundaries are derived. Waveform data is collected from an input signal during a sensed event time window, and form parameters for the input signal waveform are derived. An output identifying the signal component of interest (e.g., a P-wave) and its location within the sensed event time window is produced based upon the set of form parameters of the input signal waveform and the form parameter boundaries.

Abstract: Disclosed are implantable electronic devices and systems including a pair of microstimulators. The microstimulators include coils that are energized to generate magnetic fields aligned along a common axis.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing positive fixation of medical components to a portion of pericardial tissue via both vacuum- and/or mechanically-assisted means. A source of vacuum couples via a lumen to a recessed portion of a body structure deployed into the pericardial space. The recessed portion is adapted to form a seal around its periphery with adjacent pericardial tissue so that when the recessed portion is evacuated, the tissue is drawn into the recessed portion. Then, a sharpened instrument, such as a stylet, is deployed through the lumen and pierces the tissue, thus anchoring the body structure. A source of fluid may also be included for delivery to the pericardial space (e.g., contrast media; saline solution; biological, genetic and pharmaceutical substances and the like).

Abstract: A circuit and method for compensating for an electrode motion artifact in which the electrode motion artifact is generated because impedance between a subject and a measuring electrode changes during measurement of the subject's biosignal, and the electrode motion artifact can be differentially measured and an electrocardiogram signal can be compensated by introducing a predetermined voltage or an electric current to the subject. A circuit and method for compensating electrode motion artifact, which can differentially measure the difference information between impedance components by introducing a predetermined voltage or electric current to a subject, in association with the electrode motion artifact. In this instance, the impedance component is a component of electrode motion artifact and the electrode motion artifact is generated when measuring a biosignal.

Abstract: An anchor for spinal electrical stimulation leads having a first, extended portion adapted to be inserted through the spine and into the spinal column, and a second, shorter portion adapted to be sutured to the fascia on the outside of the spine. The extended portion assists with positioning of the electrode tip onto the spinal cord on provides strain relief for the electrode. The anchor further comprises an inner tube disposed inside of the housing along an intermediate portion between the extended portion and the shorted portion. When the outside portion of the tubular housing is sutured to the fascia of a patient, the inner tube is compressed against the electrical lead, thereby locking it in place and preventing migration over time.

Abstract: An implantable medical device system that senses physiologic processes via multiple sensor signal configurations. The device can further process the sensor configurations to obtain additional processed signal configurations. The device can utilize the processed configurations for ongoing sensing of the physiologic process. The device can also automatically evaluate the multiple sensor configurations as well as the processed configurations and select the configuration offering the best signal discrimination to reduce oversensing or erroneously interpreting secondary characteristics of the physiologic process as corresponding to primary characteristics of the process as in double-counting. The signal discrimination can be evaluated as an absolute margin and/or a ratio between amplitudes of the primary and secondary characteristics. The signal discrimination can also be evaluated based at least in part on a calculated mean and standard deviation according to each configuration.

Abstract: Adaptive rate pacing for improving heart rate kinetics in heart failure patients involves determining onset and sustaining of patient activity. The patient's heart rate response to the sustained activity is evaluated during a time window defined between onset of the activity and a steady-state exercise level. If the patient's heart rate response to the sustained activity is determined to be slow, a pacing therapy is delivered at a rate greater than the patient's intrinsic heart rate based on a profile of the patient's heart rate response to varying workloads. If determined not to be slow, the pacing therapy is withheld. Monitoring-only configurations provide for acquisition and organization of physiological data for heart failure patients. These data can be acquired on a per-patient basis and used to assess the HF status of the patient.

Abstract: A pacing control is used in multi-chamber cardiac potentiation therapy to provide a first premature pacing pulse to a first chamber based on a previous event sensed in the first chamber, and to provide a second premature pacing pulse to a second chamber based on a previous event sensed in the second chamber.

Abstract: A detector for atrial fibrillation and/or atrial flutter comprises an atrial input for receiving an atrial signal representing an intraatrial electrogram or a time course of an intraatrial impedance, a ventricular input for receiving a ventricular event signal comprising information on an occurrence of a cyclically reoccurring ventricular event in chronological association to an atrial signal received via atrial input, an averaging unit adapted to average a plurality of sections of said atrial signal, each section to be considered for averaging starts or ends at a predetermined offset before a ventricular event, and to put out an averaged atrial signal, a peak amplitude determination unit adapted to determine peak-to-peak amplitude of said averaged atrial signal, and threshold comparator adapted to compare peak-to-peak amplitude of averaged atrial signal to predetermined reference value and to generate an AF warning signal if peak-to-peak amplitude of averaged atrial signal is less than predetermined threshol