Abstract: An implantable cardiac stimulation device provides electrical stimulation therapy to stabilize the ventricular rate of a heart during episodes of atrial fibrillation. The stimulation therapy may be a plurality of sub-threshold stimulation pulses delivered to capture AV node vagal innervations following the detection of atrial fibrillation.

Abstract: Described herein are methods, devices, and systems for treating human anemia. The methods, devices, and systems generally include monitoring a patient's hemoglobin level and at least one of autonomic balance and inflammatory state to determine the etiology of the anemic state, modulating at least one of a sympathetic or parasympathetic nerve based on the cause of the anemia, monitoring for changes in the patient's cardiac activity and state of inflammation, and hemoglobin level. An external neurostimulation system is describes, and well as a chronic implantable system. A method for treating a patient for anemia in conjunction with a renal denervation ablation catheter is also disclosed.

Abstract: Described herein are methods, devices, and systems for treating human anemia. The methods, devices, and systems generally include monitoring a patient's hemoglobin level and at least one of autonomic balance and inflammatory state to determine the etiology of the anemic state, modulating at least one of a sympathetic or parasympathetic nerve based on the cause of the anemia, monitoring for changes in the patient's cardiac activity and state of inflammation, and hemoglobin level. An external neurostimulation system is describes, and well as a chronic implantable system. A method for treating a patient for anemia in conjunction with a renal denervation ablation catheter is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for applying intermittent multipoint pacing. An implantable cardiac device includes a plurality of electrodes, and a controller communicatively coupled to the plurality of electrodes and configured to cause the plurality of electrodes to alternate between applying multipoint pacing (MPP) and standard biventricular pacing (BiV) to a patient's heart.

Abstract: A method to provide electrical stimulation therapy to stabilize ventricular rate of a heart during episodes of atrial fibrillation. The stimulation therapy may be a plurality of stimulation pulses delivered to the AV node during the AV node refractory period following the sensing of an atrial event.

Abstract: Provided herein are implantable systems, and methods for use therewith, for monitoring a patient's arterial blood pressure while a patient's heart is being paced. A signal (e.g., PPG or IPG signal) indicative of changes in arterial blood volume remote from the patient's heart is obtained using a sensor or electrodes that are implanted remote from the patient's heart. One or more metrics indicative of pulse arrival time (PAT) are determined, where each metric can be determined by determining a time from a paced cardiac event to one or more predetermined features of the signal indicative of changes in arterial blood volume. Based on at the metric(s) indicative of PAT, arterial blood pressure is estimated, which can include determining values indicative of systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, pulse pressure and/or mean arterial blood pressure, and/or changes in such values.

Abstract: Described herein are methods, devices, and systems for treating human anemia. The methods, devices, and systems generally include monitoring a patient's hemoglobin level and at least one of autonomic balance and inflammatory state to determine the etiology of the anemic state, modulating at least one of a sympathetic or parasympathetic nerve based on the cause of the anemia, monitoring for changes in the patient's cardiac activity and state of inflammation, and hemoglobin level. An external neurostimulation system is describes, and well as a chronic implantable system. A method for treating a patient for anemia in conjunction with a renal denervation ablation catheter is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for applying intermittent multipoint pacing. An implantable cardiac device includes a plurality of electrodes, and a controller communicatively coupled to the plurality of electrodes and configured to cause the plurality of electrodes to alternate between applying multipoint pacing (MPP) and standard biventricular pacing (BiV) to a patient's heart.

Abstract: Described herein are methods, devices, and systems for treating human anemia. The methods, devices, and systems generally include monitoring a patients hemoglobin level and at least one of autonomic balance and inflammatory state to determine the etiology of the anemic state, modulating at least one of a sympathetic or parasympathetic nerve based on the cause of the anemia, monitoring for changes in the patients cardiac activity and state of inflammation, and hemoglobin level. An external neurostimulation system is describes, and well as a chronic implantable system. A method for treating a patient for anemia in conjunction with a renal denervation ablation catheter is also disclosed.

Abstract: A bioelectric battery may be used to power implantable devices. The bioelectric battery may have an anode electrode and a cathode electrode separated by an insulating member comprising a tube having a first end and a second end, wherein said anode is inserted into said first end of said tube and said cathode surrounds said tube such that the tube provides a support for the cathode electrode. The bioelectric battery may also have a membrane surrounding the cathode to reduce tissue encapsulation. Alternatively, an anode electrode, a cathode electrode surrounding the cathode electrode, a permeable membrane surrounding the cathode electrode. An electrolyte is disposed within the permeable membrane and a mesh surrounds the permeable membrane. In an alternative embodiment, a pacemaker housing acts as a cathode electrode for a bioelectric battery and an anode electrode is attached to the housing with an insulative adhesive.

Abstract: In an implantable medical device for monitoring glucose concentration in the blood, a blood-glucose concentration analysis is performed using correlations of blood-glucose concentration with measures of metabolic oxygen consumption including oxymetric, and/or temperature. Analysis of electrocardiographic data is used in a parallel method to detect and/or confirm the onset and/or existence and/or extent of hypoglycemia and/or hyperglycemia. Blood-glucose concentration calculation is enhanced by using the combination of the oxygen metabolism analysis and electrocardiographic analysis.

Abstract: Specific embodiments of the present invention determine a range of a physiologic property, for each of a plurality of periods of time, and monitor changes in the patient's heart disease based on changes in the range. Other embodiments determine a minimum of a physiologic property, for each of a plurality of periods of time, and monitor changes in the patient's heart disease based on changes in the minimum. Still other embodiments determine a maximum of the physiologic property, for each of a plurality of periods of time, and monitor changes in the patient's heart disease based on changes in the maximum.

Abstract: Provided herein are implantable systems, and methods for use therewith, for characterizing a tachycardia and/or selecting treatment for a tachycardia using results of a dominant frequency analysis. One or more electrogram (EGM) signal(s) indicative of cardiac electrical activity are obtained. For at least one of the EGM signal(s) a dominant frequency (DF) analysis is performed, and the results of the DF analysis are used to characterize a tachycardia and/or to select treatment for a tachycardia.

Abstract: Specific embodiments of the present invention determine a range of a physiologic property, for each of a plurality of periods of time, and monitor changes in the patient's heart disease based on changes in the range. Other embodiments determine a minimum of a physiologic property, for each of a plurality of periods of time, and monitor changes in the patient's heart disease based on changes in the minimum. Still other embodiments determine a maximum of the physiologic property, for each of a plurality of periods of time, and monitor changes in the patient's heart disease based on changes in the maximum.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to implantable systems, and methods for use therewith, for monitoring myocardial electro-mechanical stability, and responding to the same. One or more signal indicative of electrical functioning of a patient's heart is obtained, as is one or more signal indicative of mechanical functioning of the patient's heart. The patient's myocardial electrical stability is monitored based on the one or more signal indicative of electrical functioning of the patient's heart, and the patient's myocardial mechanical stability is monitored based on the one or more signal indicative of mechanical functioning of the patient's heart. Based on both the myocardial electrical stability and myocardial mechanical stability, the patient's risk of an adverse cardiac event is monitored. Further, when the patient is at risk of an adverse cardiac event, a response is triggered that is specific to both the myocardial electrical stability and the myocardial mechanical stability.

Abstract: In specific embodiments, a method for estimating central arterial blood pressure (CBP), comprises determining a time t1 from a predetermined feature of a signal indicative of electrical activity to a predetermined feature of one of a first and second signals, the time t1 being a first pulse arrival time (PAT1) indicative of how long it takes a pulse wave to travel from the aorta to one of a first and second sites, determining a time t2, the time t2 being a second pulse arrival time (PAT2) indicative of how long it takes a pulse wave to travel from the aorta to the other of the first and second sites, and (f) estimating the patient's central arterial blood pressure (CBP) based on the first pulse arrival time (PAT1) and the second pulse arrival time (PAT2).

Abstract: An implantable device and method for monitoring changes in the risk of arrhythmia induced by medications. The implantable device monitors risk of arrhythmia by analyzing an aspect of T-wave morphology to generate a metric of transmural dispersion of repolarization (“TDR”) as a proxy for the risk of arrhythmia. The implantable device generates an index of change in the risk of arrhythmia by comparing values of the metric of TDR obtained for different time periods. The implantable device generates a warning if the change in risk of arrhythmia is outside acceptable limits. The implantable device can also communicate with other devices to correlate changes in risk of arrhythmia with medications taken by the patient.

Abstract: Exemplary methods are described for providing responsive vascular control with or without cardiac pacing. An implantable device with responsive vascular and cardiac controllers interprets physiological conditions and responds with an appropriate degree of vascular therapy applied as electrical pulses to a sympathetic nerve. In one implementation, an implantable device is programmed to deliver the vascular therapy in response to low blood pressure or orthostatic hypotension. The device may stimulate the greater splanchnic nerve, to effect therapeutic vasoconstriction. The vascular therapy is dynamically adjusted as the condition improves. In one implementation to benefit impaired physical mobility, vascular therapy comprises vasoconstriction and is timed to coincide with a recurring segment of the cardiac cycle. The vasoconstriction assists circulation and venous return in the lower limbs of inactive and bedridden individuals.

Abstract: In specific embodiments, a method for estimating central arterial blood pressure (CBP), comprises determining a time t1 from a predetermined feature of a signal indicative of electrical activity to a predetermined feature of one of a first and second signals, the time t1 being a first pulse arrival time (PAT1) indicative of how long it takes a pulse wave to travel from the aorta to one of a first and second sites, determining a time t2, the time t2 being a second pulse arrival time (PAT2) indicative of how long it takes a pulse wave to travel from the aorta to the other of the first and second sites, and (f) estimating the patient's central arterial blood pressure (CBP) based on the first pulse arrival time (PAT1) and the second pulse arrival time (PAT2).

Abstract: Implantable systems, and methods for use therewith, are provided for monitoring for an impending myocardial infarction. A signal indicative of changes in arterial blood volume is obtained. Such a signal can be a photoplethysmography signal or an impedance plethysmography signal. For each of a plurality of periods of time, a metric indicative of the areas under the curve of the signal or number of inflections in the signal is determined. An impending myocardial infarction is monitored for based on changes in the metric indicative of the area under the curve of the signal or number of inflections in the signal, and an alert and/or therapy is triggered in response to an impending myocardial infarction being predicted.