Abstract: In a medical device and a method for operating the medical device, it is first determined whether a patient, at whom a medical measurement is to be made, satisfied specified criteria that will ensure comparability of the measurement results obtained from the patient. Only when the specified criteria had been satisfied is an electrical bio-impedance signal obtained from the patient. The cardiac component of the electrical bio-impedance signal is extracted, and is analyzed to identify a change in a medical condition of the patient.

Abstract: In an electrically conductive lead adapted for implantation in a human or animal body, and a method for making such a lead, a drug-dispensing member is disposed at a distal end portion of the lead, at which an electrode member is disposed that is adapted to emit and/or sense electrical signals associated with medical therapy. The drug-dispensing member has a configuration so that, after implantation, the amount of drug released into the body per time unit is automatically controlled to smoothly vary with time from al larger amount to a smaller amount in accordance with a predetermined relationship of the amount of drug released as a function of time.

Abstract: In an implantable heart stimulating device, system and method, electrical stimulation pulses are delivered to first and second ventricles of a heart with a variable time interval therebetween, and signals are sensed at two different positions in the heart, from which an impedance value is derived. A minimum value and a maximum value of the impedance value are determined during a heart cycle, and a relationship between the minimum and maximum values also is determined. The time interval is varied and the relationship is monitored over a number of heart cycles. The time interval is set so that the relationship satisfies a predetermined requirement.

Abstract: A heart stimulator for electric stimulation of a patient's heart has an impedance measuring unit that measures the impedance between at least two measurement electrodes implanted in a patient such that volume changes of at least one of the chambers of the left heart result in changes in the measured impedance. An analyzer analyzes the measured impedance for the control of the stimulation of the heart. A calculation unit calculates an average impedance morphology curve during a time interval of several cardiac cycles. The analyzer analyzes the average impedance morphology curve for use for the control of the stimulation to optimize the patient hemodynamics.

Abstract: A congestive heart failure monitor has an impedance measuring unit that measures the impedance between at least two electrodes implanted in a patient, to use a detected change of the measured impedance as an indication of a change in the left atrium volume. Any analyzing unit analyzes the measured impedance and detects insipient congestive heart failure dependent on a quotient of a maximum value of the measured impedance and a minimum value of the measured impedance during a cardiac cycle.

Abstract: In an implantable heart stimulating device, system and method, electrical stimulation pulses are delivered to first and second ventricles of a heart with a variable time interval therebetween, and signals are sensed at two different positions in the heart, from which an impedance value is derived. A minimum value and a maximum value of the impedance value are determined during a heart cycle, and a relationship between the minimum and maximum values also is determined. The time interval is varied and the relationship is monitored over a number of heart cycles. The time interval is set so that the relationship satisfies a predetermined requirement.

Abstract: In an electrically conductive lead adapted for implantation in a human or animal body, and a method for making such a lead, a drug-dispensing member is disposed at a distal end portion of the lead, at which an electrode member is disposed that is adapted to emit and/or sense electrical signals associated with medical therapy. The drug-dispensing member has a configuration so that, after implantation, the amount of drug released into the body per time unit is automatically controlled to smoothly vary with time from al larger amount to a smaller amount in accordance with a predetermined relationship of the amount of drug released as a function of time.

Abstract: A heart stimulator for electric stimulation of a patient's heart has an impedance measuring unit that measures the impedance between at least two measurement electrodes implanted in a patient such that volume changes of at least one of the chambers of the left heart result in changes in the measured impedance. An analyzer analyzes the measured impedance for the control of the stimulation of the heart. A calculation unit calculates an average impedance morphology curve during a time interval of several cardiac cycles. The analyzer analyzes the average impedance morphology curve for use for the control of the stimulation to optimize the patient hemodynamics.