Abstract: A cardiac monitoring system that detects electrical signals from a patient's heart and wirelessly transmits the signals digitally to a remote base station via telemetry. The base station converts the digital signals back to analog electrical signals that can be read by an electrocardiograph (ECG) monitor.

Abstract: A device that includes an electrical output channel adapted to deliver a sub-threshold voltage, a lead that includes a proximal end adapted to be electrically connected to the electrical output channel and a distal end adapted to be placed in the blood conduit where the distal end of the lead is adapted to deliver a treatment agent that stimulates therapeutic angiogenesis, and at least one electrode on the distal end of the first lead.

Abstract: A method and device for delivering cardiac function therapy on a demand basis. An implantable device for delivering cardiac function therapy is programmed to suspend such therapy at periodic intervals or upon command from an external programmer. Measurements related to hemodynamic performance are then taken using one or more sensing modalities incorporated into the device. Based upon these measurements, the device uses a decision algorithm to determine whether further delivery of the cardiac function therapy is warranted.

Abstract: A system comprising an implantable medical device includes a ventricular heart signal sensing circuit, a pacing therapy circuit, and a controller circuit coupled to the signal sensing circuit and the therapy circuit. The controller circuit is operable to detect a ventricular tachycardia heart rhythm from the cardiac signal, measure an amount of time the heart signal is one of inside or outside of an effective amplitude band, and initiate ATP therapy if the measured amount of time is less than a threshold amount of time.

Abstract: Improved methods and devices are provided for detecting and/or predicting the onset of an undesirable physiological event or neural state, such as an epileptic seizure, to facilitate rapid intervention with a treatment therapy such as neurostimulation or drug therapy. The methods and devices involve monitoring the patient's body temperature, preferably by an implanted temperature sensor, to detect a sudden change in a body temperature parameter. The temperature parameter change may comprise an increase or decrease in the patient's body temperature, time rate of change of body temperature, or a difference in a moving average temperature for a first period from that of a second period. When a parameter change is detected that exceeds a threshold, neurostimulation therapy is delivered to a neural structure of the patient.

Abstract: A drug-eluting endocardial lead and method of manufacture. The silicone elastomer of the present invention is ideally suited to a manufacturing environment due to its extended pot life and decreased curing time. A preferred silicone elastomer is comprised of a multi-part mixture having at least a base portion and a curing portion. Additionally, since curing does not begin until the base and curing portions are combined, the mixing can be physically undertaken closer to the location of the endocardial lead and the curing “clock” does not start until the mixing occurs and external heat is applied. Since the silicone elastomer formed by base and curing components have improved the pot life and curing characteristics, the mixture is suitable for mixing with a steroid and then dispensing into an endocardial lead tip thus eliminating current design limitations imposed by current art while concomitantly minimizing manufacturing costs.

Abstract: A method of predicting an arrhythmia, such as ventricular tachycardia, for example, in a medical device using a quantitative measure in order to allow assessment of patient risk and to enable preventative interventions by the device and clinicians. The trending of day and night average heart rates, along with patient physical activity can be analyzed to provide prediction of impending arrhythmia within weeks. By examining day and night average heart rate for crossover points, where the night heart rate equals or exceeds the day rate, and monitoring for a concomitant elevation in the night heart rate from a reference value, specific days heralding an increased risk of arrhythmia can be determined and therapy can be updated accordingly.

Abstract: An apparatus to enable health care providers to perform a number of diagnostic procedures, including listening to the heart, obtaining electrocardiograms and sonograms. A pocket size instrument displays an EKG tracing on its screen simultaneously upon auscultation of the heart. The abdomen may also be investigated by displaying a sonogram. Wireless broadband technology may provide a closed circuit interface for real-time wireless transmission of acquired data. Examination requires none of a multiplicity of wires to untangle, bulky machines or a technician to be summoned. Regurgitation, heart size, ischemia and heart murmurs can all be evaluated by a visual and auditory methods.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an implantable medical device that stimulates a nerve associated with respiration. The nerve may, for example be a phrenic nerve, and the stimulation may cause a diaphragm of the patient to contract. The implantable medical device receives a signal that indicates a need for increased cardiac output and stimulates the nerve in response to the signal. The implantable medical device may receive such a signal by, for example, detecting a ventricular tachyarrhythmia, sensing a pressure that indicates a need for increased cardiac output, or receiving a signal from a patient via a patient activator. Stimulation of the nerve may increase cardiac output of a beating or defibrillating heart.

Abstract: A cochlear implant electrode assembly (10) comprising an elongate electrode carrier member (11), a bioresorbable stiffening element (15) and an outer layer (16) surrounding the stiffening element (15). The carrier member (11) is made of a resiliently flexible first material and has a plurality of electrodes (12) mounted thereon and has a first configuration selected to allow it to be inserted into an implantee's cochlea, and at least a second configuration wherein it is curved to match a surface of the cochlea. The bioresorbable stiffening element (15) has a configuration selected for biassing the elongate member (11) into the first configuratin and is made of a second material relatively stiffer than the first material and which dissolves or softens on exposure to cochlear fluids to permit the elongate member (11) to at least approach or adopt the second configuration.

Abstract: A cochlear implant electrode assembly device (10) comprising an elongate electrode carrier member (11), a first stiffening element (15a), and a second stiffening element (15b). The carrier member (11) is made of a resiliently flexible first material and has a plurality of electrodes (12) mounted thereon. The carrier member (11) has a first configuration selected to allow it to be inserted into an implantee's cochlea (30), a second configuration wherein it is curved in shape to match a surface of the cochlea (30), and at least one intermediate configuration between the first and second configurations. Both the first and second stiffening elements (15a, 15b) are made of a material relatively stiffer than said the material and in combination bias the elongate member into the first configuration. If either the first stiffening element (15a) or the second stiffening element (15b) are removed, the elongate member (11) adopts the at least one intermediate configuration.

Abstract: A feedthrough apparatus for a implantable medical device having a casing includes a conductive housing having an outer side, an inner side, and a peripheral surface with a continuous assembly groove therein for mounting on the casing of the implantable medical device. The conductive housing has first and second through bores extending between the outer side and the inner side in spaced apart, generally parallel, relationship. First and second filtered feedthrough assemblies are received, respectively, in the first and second through bores. Each filtered feedthrough assembly includes an insulative terminal, a filter capacitor, and a plurality of lead wires electrically isolated from the conductive housing supported on and extending through the insulative terminal and through the filter capacitor in conductive relation therewith. Also, a backfill port is provided on the conductive housing and has a passageway extending between the inner side and the outer side.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for an implantable medical device having a connector module that is welded to a housing. The apparatus comprises an implantable medical device that includes a housing and a connector module. The connector module includes an embedded fastener bracket with one or more weld tabs that are welded to the housing.

Abstract: Efficient provision of hemodynamic benefits and therapy for patients suffering from intraventricular conduction delays or conduction blockage. By effectively measuring conduction delay or block (e.g., left bundle branch block or “LBBB”) and enhancing delivery of a novel form of left ventricle-only cardiac resynchronization therapy. Accordingly, a single LV fusion pacing stimulus is triggered from an atrial event (e.g., intrinsic or evoked depolarization). The triggering event can emanate from the right atrium (RA) or the left atrium (LA). The single LV fusion pacing stimulus is delivered prior to the intrinsic depolarization of the RV—upon expiration of a “LEPARS interval”—thus efficiently providing intraventricular electromechanical synchrony by fusion. During variations in heart rate the operating AV interval (herein A-LVp interval) is varied while the LEPARS interval is substantially essentially constant, thereby preserving the enhanced hemodynamics resulting from the fusion depolarization.

Abstract: A system and method for estimating optimal atrioventricular delay values for use in pacing the ventricles. Both the intrinsic inter-atrial conduction delay and the intrinsic atrioventricular conduction delay are determined for the patient and then the preferred atrioventricular pacing delay is derived therefrom. By taking into account intrinsic inter-atrial delay along with intrinsic atrioventricular delay, a more reliable estimate of the true optimal atrioventricular delay values for the patient can be achieved than with techniques that only take into account intrinsic atrioventricular delay values. In one example, the technique uses intracardiac electrogram (IEGM) signals and surface electrocardiogram (EKG) signals and hence can be performed by an external programmer without requiring Doppler echocardiography or other cardiac performance monitoring techniques.

Abstract: A cardiac rhythm management system includes a lead assembly for intracardiac mapping, pacing, and drug delivery. The lead assembly includes an implantable endocardial lead having a proximal end for connection to an implantable cardiac rhythm management device and a distal end for disposal in an intracardiac region. The lead includes a pacing-sensing electrode and a drug delivery device, both located at or near the distal end. A lumen is within and extends throughout the lead, with an opening at or near the proximal end and another opening at or near the distal end. The lumen provides for access to the intracardiac region by a steerable stylet and a hollow needle, one at a time. The steerable stylet allows for electrophysiological mapping of the intracardiac region. The hollow needle allows for delivery of chemical, biochemical, and/or biological substance to the intracardiac region.

Abstract: Terminating supraventricular arrhythmias through parasympathetic nerve stimulation. The method comprises detecting a supraventricular arrhythmia, stimulating a parasympathetic nerve and determining whether the supraventricular arrhythmia terminated or worsened. Various exemplary methods include delivering one or more stimulation pulses during postinspiration and/or in response to one or more cardiac events.

Abstract: A modular implantable medical device permits implantable medical devices to have a smaller profile in order to better fit into locations within the human body. A modular implantable medical device separates various functional components of the implantable medical device into a set of interconnected modules. This distributed architecture of a modular implantable medical device may permit the device footprint to be distributed over a larger area while making the profile smaller, and may permit the overall shape of the implantable medical device to better match the body location into which it is to be implanted. An overmold integrates the modules of a modular implantable medical device into a single structure. In some embodiments the overmold is flexible and provides a biocompatible interface from the component modules and the patient, while restraining potentially harmful intermodule motion.

Abstract: In an implantable medical device having an electrical lead coupled to tissue of a user and a circuit for measuring the impedance of the lead, a method and apparatus for responding to impedance variations in the lead which includes measuring the impedance of the lead while monitoring physiologic parameters of the user, detecting the presence or absence of electromagnetic interference, and if the impedance of the lead is out-of-range, determining whether the electromagnetic interference exceeds a predetermined value, and if the electromagnetic interference exceeds a predetermined value, administering a therapy to the tissue of the user.

Abstract: The invention is a retinal prosthesis with an inductive coil mounted to the side of the eye by means of a strap around the eye. This allows for close coupling to an external coil and movement of the entire implanted portion with movement of the eye ball.