Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to implantable systems, and methods for use therewith, for monitoring myocardial mechanical stability based on a signal that is indicative of mechanical functioning of a patient's heart for a plurality of consecutive beats. Certain embodiments use time domain techniques, while other embodiments use frequency domain techniques, to monitor myocardial mechanical stability. In certain embodiments the patient's heart is paced using a patterned pacing sequence that repeats every N beats. In other embodiments, the patient's heart need not be paced. This abstract is not intended to be a complete description of, or limit the scope of, the invention.

Abstract: Techniques are described for use by an implantable medical device equipped to use trim values, which allow the device to continue to use trim values despite certain memory errors such as parity errors. Briefly, optimal trim values are stored within RAM. Nominal trim values are stored within ROM. Device functions are then performed using the trim values stored within RAM. If an error is detected indicative of possible corruption of RAM, then the trim values from ROM are loaded into RAM to enable continued operation of the device using the nominal trim values despite the error. In a preferred implementation, the optimized trim values are initially stored at two separate locations within RAM. A procedure is described herein for allowing the device to continue to use the optimized trim values following a device reset if no parity error is detected. If a parity error occurred, the device instead uses the nominal trim values from ROM.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to implantable systems, and methods for use therewith, for monitoring myocardial electrical stability. A patient's heart is paced for a period of time using a patterned pacing sequence that repeats every N beats, and an electrical signal is obtained that is representative of a plurality of consecutive beats of the patient's heart while it is being paced using the patterned pacing sequence that repeats every N beats. Myocardial electrical stability is then analyzed using frequency domain techniques that are tailored to the patterned pacing sequence used to pace the patient's heart. In other embodiments, the patient's heart need not be paced. This abstract is not intended to be a complete description of, or limit the scope of, the invention.

Abstract: A conductive electrolyte comprises an indicator dye for facilitating detection of electrolyte leakage in a high voltage electrolytic capacitor as well as for facilitating the determination as to when an electrolyte has reached a desired pH range. In a method for detecting electrolyte leakage, a capacitor comprising a flat stack of anodes enclosed in a housing with a lid and an electrolyte comprising an indicator dye is inspected for the presence of electrolyte leaking out of the capacitor. The indicator dye facilitates viewing leaking electrolyte. The indicator dye can be a coloring agent that changes the color of the electrolyte or can be a fluorescent that fluoresces when exposed to ultraviolet light. The indicator dye is also utilized as a pH indicator during the manufacture of electrolytic capacitors, wherein a base is introduced into an electrolyte having an indicator dye that changes pH when the electrolyte turns basic.

Abstract: Implantable systems, and methods for use therein, perform at least one of a cardiac assessment and an autonomic assessment. Premature atrial contractions (PACs) are induced to thereby cause corresponding premature contractions in the ventricles. Short-term fluctuations in cardiac intervals, that follow the premature contractions in the ventricles caused by the induced PACs, are monitored. At least one of a cardiac assessment and an autonomic assessment is performed based on the monitored fluctuations in cardiac intervals that follow the premature contractions in the ventricles caused by the induced PACs. This can include assessing a patient's risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD), assessing a patient's autonomic tone and/or detecting myocardial ischemic events based on the monitored fluctuations in cardiac intervals that follow the premature contractions in the ventricles caused by the induced PACs.

Abstract: A method for connecting to a remote unit via a communications medium, determining a data transfer rate of the connection, setting a sampling rate between the remote unit and an implantable medical device at least in part as a function of the determined data transfer rate and receiving real time data from the remote unit via said communications medium.

Abstract: Patients fitted with an implantable medical device (IMD) must typically return to their medical providers for follow-up sessions where the medical provider retrieves data from the patient's IMD for analysis. A remote monitoring device is described to allow patients to complete a follow-up session from the comfort of their own home or from some other remote location. Specifically, a user interface employing various audio signals, light indicators, and tactile features is described to aid patients with hearing and/or visual disabilities during the remote follow-up session. Different light indicator states are used to aid hearing impaired patients. Different audio sound states are used to aid visually impaired patients. Furthermore, tactile features are used to aid hearing and/or visually impaired patients.

Abstract: A subcutaneous cardiac stimulation system verifies accelerated arrhythmia detection before delivering accelerated arrhythmia therapy to the heart. The stimulation system includes a verification circuit that verifies detection of the accelerated arrhythmia with each of first and second sense channels utilizing first and second electrode configurations. The therapy circuit delivers the stimulation therapy to the heart if the accelerated arrhythmia detection is verified with each of the first and second electrode configurations. The system also compensates for transient rate changes during the detection of the accelerated arrhythmia.

Abstract: A method of producing a highly etched electrode for a capacitor from a foil is disclosed. The method comprises first applying a composition to the foil to form a plurality of deposits on the foil surface. The method then includes heating the deposits to form micron-sized features and etching the foil. Preferably, the micron-sized features facilitate etching of the foil surface at the location of the micron-sized features. After etching, the foil is optionally further processed in a combination of optional steps such as widening, forming and finishing steps. The controlled application and heating of deposits on the foil surface allows for positional control of tunnel initiation during etching. Thus, the present invention relates to a method of controlling the etching of a foil, such that tunnel initiation density and the location of tunnel initiation is controlled.

Abstract: An implantable medical device and associated method are provided including a vibratory alert and a vibration-sensitive sensor. Further included is a circuit in communication with the vibratory alert and the vibration-sensitive sensor. Such circuit is adapted for at least reducing an affect of the vibratory alert on the vibration-sensitive sensor.

Abstract: According the present invention, anode foils are encapsulated in separator material so as to insulate them from the metal housing of an electrolytic capacitor. The present invention also provides for enclosed capacitor configurations for use in stacked capacitor configurations. Preferably, heat-sealable polymeric materials are used as separator materials to encapsulate or enclose the anode assemblies and capacitor configurations. The encapsulated anode assemblies and capacitor configurations of the present invention may be used in implantable cardioverter defibrillators.

Abstract: Provided herein are implantable devices, and methods for use therewith, that perform at least one of a cardiac assessment and an autonomic assessment. An implantable device is used to sense a cardiac electrogram (EGM) signal, and cardiac intervals are measured within a portion of the sensed EGM signal. Anchor points are identified based on the measured cardiac intervals, and for each identified anchor point, a segment of at least three consecutive said cardiac intervals that is generally centered about the anchor point is defined. The segments defined for the anchor points are averaged to produce an average segment. At least one of a cardiac assessment and an autonomic assessment is performed based on the average segment. This can include assessing a patient's autonomic tone based on the average segment, assessing a patients risk of SCD based on the average segment and/or detecting a myocardial ischemic event based on the average segment.

Abstract: Analysis of metabolic gases by an implantable medical device allows the assessment of the status of a congestive heart failure patient by providing for the assessment of cardiac output. The present invention is directed to an implanted medical device configured to measure concentrations of metabolic gases in the blood to determine cardiac output of a patient. The device is also configured to measure changes in the cardiac output of a patient. The present invention is also directed to a method of measuring cardiac output by an implanted medical device. Further, the detection of changes in cardiac output utilizing an implanted medical device as disclosed herein is useful in a method of detecting exacerbation of congestive heart failure. The implanted medical device can also be used to pace a heart to modify cardiac output in a patient.

Abstract: An electrolyte including ?-butyrolactone, a cosolvent and an alcohol is disclosed, which may be used in an electrolytic capacitor with very high operating voltage. Optional additional additives are added to the electrolyte to enhance its conductivity and reliability.

Abstract: A method of producing a highly etched electrode for a capacitor from a foil is disclosed. The method comprises first applying a laser beam to the foil to form a plurality of marks on the foil surface and then etching the foil. Preferably, the laser marks facilitate etching of foil surface in areas near the marks and retard etching of foil surface inside the marks. After etching, the foil is further processed in a combination of optional steps such as forming and finishing steps. The laser marking of the foil allows for positional control of tunnel initiation, such that tunnel initiation density and the location of tunnel initiation is controlled. By controlling the position of tunnel initiation, foils are etched more uniformly and have optimum tunnel distributions, thus allows for the production of highly etched foils that maintain high strength and have high capacitance.

Abstract: A micro-denier fiber of less than approximately 2.0 microns is coated in a valve metal to a metal thickness of approximately 0.2 to 2.0 microns. In one embodiment, a long filament of coated fiber is wound on a spool in such a way that the maximum arrangement of fiber density is achieved For example, the spool may have a cross section exhibiting a hexagonal close-packed arrangement of the fibers. In another embodiment, a plurality of fibers may be grown or formed into a particular arrangement prior to coating. Once coated and arranged, the fiber mass is compressed and constrained so that shapes can be cut out in various thicknesses, such as, for example, approximately 50 microns to 5000 microns. Each sheet is sintered to bind the metal and remove the fiber, leaving a porous anode that can be oxidized and formed in the usual manner for a capacitor.

Abstract: An implantable electronic device has a main housing with a leak-proof-sealed housing chamber containing electronic circuitry. An optical module is connected to the main housing, and has a module housing with a leak-proof-sealed transducer chamber isolated from the main housing chamber. The module housing has an optically-transmissive optical element, and the transducer chamber contains an optical transducer connected to the circuitry. The module housing includes a number of signal conductors extending from the transducer chamber to a location external to the transducer chamber, and connected to circuitry in the main housing chamber.

Abstract: This disclosure provides methods for assembling multiple anode stacked capacitor configurations with a temporary adhesive to aide in the alignment of separator materials and electrodes without sacrificing energy density, and electrolytic capacitors comprising such configurations. The temporary adhesive for use in the electrode assemblies will preferably comprise a polymer that is substantially soluble in a solvent-based electrolyte for use in an electrolytic capacitor.

Abstract: A dry titanium nitride (TiN) powder abrasion method roughens the surface of a valve metal foil for use as a cathode in an electrolytic capacitor. This increases the surface area of the foil, thereby increasing the double-layer capacitance of the cathode, and also mechanically alloys TiN powder to the surface of the foil, thereby increasing the pseudo-capacitance of the cathode. In one embodiment, a piece of thin titanium foil is mounted on a hard metal backing and at least one surface of the foil is abraded with fine titanium nitride powder. In another embodiment, a continuous metal foil tape is fed into a bead blasting box and at least one surface of the metal foil tape is abraded with TiN powder delivered by a bead blasting nozzle located within the bead blasting box. Accordingly, a cathode having increased capacitance capability is provided to more closely match the capacitance of a poly-anode stack.

Abstract: This disclosure provides folded anode assemblies, conjoined cathode assemblies, and flat stack capacitor configurations comprising such assemblies, and methods of preparing the various assemblies. The anode assemblies, conjoined cathode assemblies and capacitor configurations disclosed herein can be used in implantable cardioverter defibrillators.