Abstract: Described herein is a fully-differential preamplifier comprising an input differential pair, an output current load, and a current source. The current source is coupled between the input differential pair and a low voltage rail and configured to control whether the fully-differential preamplifier is operating in a first mode or a second mode, wherein the preamplifier draws more current when operating in the second mode compared to when operating in the first mode. The input differential pair is coupled between the output current load and the current source. The output current load is coupled between a high voltage rail and the input differential pair. The input differential pair comprise positive and negative inputs of the fully-differential preamplifier. Nodes where the input differential pair and the output current load are coupled to one another comprise positive and negative outputs of the fully-differential preamplifier.

Abstract: Fabricating a capacitor includes performing an oxide formation operation on a sheet of material. The oxide formation operation forms an anode metal oxide on an anode metal. A thermal compression is performed on the sheet of material after the oxide formation operation is performed. The thermal compression applies thermal energy to the sheet of material while applying pressure to the sheet of material. After the thermal compression, the capacitor is assembled such that at least one electrode in the capacitor includes at least a portion of the sheet of material.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present technology described herein relate to detecting atrial oversensing in a His intracardiac electrogram (His IEGM), characterizing atrial oversensing, determining when atrial oversensing is likely to occur, and or reducing the chance of atrial oversensing occurring. Some such embodiments characterize and/or avoid atrial oversensing within a His IEGM. Other embodiments of the present technology described herein relate to determining whether atrial capture occurs in response to His bundle pacing (HBP). Still other embodiments of the present technology described herein relate to determining whether AV node capture occurs in response to HBP.

Abstract: Methods and systems for terminating a pacemaker mediated tachycardia (PMT) are described herein. During a period that a PMT is not detected, an implantable system delivers an atrial pacing pulse to an atrial cardiac chamber in response to a PA interval expiring without an intrinsic atrial event being detected during the PA interval. The systems performs atrial sensing to thereby monitor for intrinsic atrial events in the atrial cardiac chamber, performs ventricular sensing to thereby monitor for intrinsic ventricular events in a ventricular cardiac chamber, and detects the PMT. Additionally, the system, in response to the PMT being detected, initiates a PMT PA interval that is shorter than the PA interval that the system would otherwise use for atrial pacing if the PMT was not detected.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to implantable medical devices (IMDs) and methods for use therewith. Such a method includes using an accelerometer of an IMD (e.g., a leadless pacemaker) to produce one or more accelerometer outputs indicative of the orientation of the IMD. The method can also include the IMD using an accelerometer to identify when the orientation of the IMD is such that the IMD will likely be able to successfully communicate with another IMD via one or more communication pulses sent from the IMD to the other IMD. The method also includes the IMD sending of the one or more communication pulses, that are used to communicate with the other IMD, when the orientation of the IMD is such that the IMD will likely be able to successfully communicate with the other IMD via one or more communication pulses sent from the IMD to the other IMD.

Abstract: An implantable medical device, battery and method include memory configured to store program instructions. At least one of circuitry or a processor are configured to execute the program instructions in connection with at least one of monitoring a biological signal or administering a therapy. The device includes a battery comprising a cell stack that includes an anode, a cathode, and one or more separator layers electrically insulating the anode from the cathode. The device includes a case having a feedthrough port and a feedthrough assembly disposed in the feedthrough port. The feedthrough assembly includes a ferrule having a lumen. An inner conductor is disposed within the lumen of the ferrule. The inner conductor is formed from a material having a first composition and a first coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE). An insulating core is disposed within the lumen of the ferrule and separates the inner conductor from the ferrule.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting arrhythmias in cardiac activity are provided and include memory to store specific executable instructions. One or more processors are configured to execute the specific executable instructions for obtaining first and second far field cardiac activity (CA) data sets over primary and secondary sensing channels, respectively, in connection with a series of beats. The system detects candidate atrial features from the second CA data set, identifies ventricular features from the first CA data set and utilizes the ventricular features to separate beat segments within the second CA data set. The system automatically iteratively analyzes the beat segments by overlaying an atrial activity search window with the second CA data set and determines whether one or more of the candidate atrial features occur within the atrial activity search window.

Abstract: An electrical feedthrough assembly, which is configured to be mounted on a housing of a leadless biostimulator, comprises an electrode body including a cup having an electrode wall extending distally from an electrode base around an electrode cavity, an electrode tip mounted on a distal end of the electrode body, and a filler in the electrode cavity between the electrode base and the electrode tip, wherein the filler includes a therapeutic agent. The electrode tip is configured to be placed in contact with target tissue to which a pacing impulse is to be transmitted by the leadless biostimulator. A pin extends proximally from the electrode base, wherein the pin is configured to be into contact with an electrical connector of an electronics assembly within the housing of the leadless biostimulator.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an implantable pulse generator for administering electrotherapy via an implantable lead. The pulse generator includes a housing and a header connector assembly coupled to the housing. The header connector assembly includes a connector assembly and a header enclosing the connector assembly. The connector assembly includes a support and a connector receptacle. The support extends at least partially about the connector receptacle and is at least partially responsible for having prevented injection molding material from entering the connector receptacle when the injection molding material was injection molded about the connector assembly in forming the header.

Abstract: A lead delivery catheter having a slittable pull ring is described. The lead delivery catheter includes a deflection wire attached to the slittable pull ring to deflect the catheter. The slittable pull ring has several ring holes arranged in a pattern. The pull ring is located distal to a tubular braid of the lead delivery catheter, and a size and pattern of the ring holes can be similar to a size and pattern of holes in the tubular braid. The structural similarity between the pull ring and the tubular braid facilitates use of a consistent cutting force to slit through the tubular braid and the pull ring of the lead delivery catheter. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: A biostimulator, such as a leadless pacemaker, including a header assembly having an electrical feedthrough assembly incorporating a helix mount, is described. The header assembly includes a fixation element mounted on the helix mount. The helix mount is mounted on a flange of the electrical feedthrough assembly, and thus, the fixation element can attach the leadless biostimulator to a target tissue. An electrode of the electrical feedthrough assembly is mounted within the flange to deliver a pacing impulse to the target tissue. A ceramic portion of the helix mount is disposed between the flange and the electrode to block an electrical path between the electrode and the flange. Accordingly, the helix mount both retains the fixation element on the leadless biostimulator and electrically isolates the flange and electrode components of the electrical feedthrough. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: A delivery system for an intracorporeal device includes a sheath defining one or more lumens shaped to receive a delivery catheter or shaft and a guidewire. The system may include a delivery shaft having a distal coupling feature adapted to releasably couple with a proximal coupling feature of the intracorporeal device. The delivery system may further include a hub through which the delivery shaft and guidewire are passed. The delivery shaft may be coupled to a feature, such as a knob, that enables manipulation of the delivery shaft to decouple the distal fixation feature from the proximal fixation feature of the intracorporeal device in order to deploy the intracorporeal device within a patient.

Abstract: A valve for use in manufacturing of implantable medical devices is insertable into a bore of the medical device during a manufacturing process. The valve is configured to remain closed while the pressure differential between an internal volume of the implantable medical device and a surrounding environment is below a particular threshold and to open when the threshold is reached, thereby allowing air or other fluids to escape from the internal volume into the surrounding environment. The valves are particularly useful during certain types of coating processes that must be performed at or near vacuum and provide an effective way to prevent ingress of coating material into the internal volume of the implantable medical device.

Abstract: Implantable medical devices (IMDs), systems, and methods for use therewith are disclosed. One such method is for use by a leadless pacemaker (LP) configured to perform conductive communication with another implantable medical device (IMD). The method includes the LP storing information that specifies when, within a cardiac cycle, the LP and the other IMD implanted in a patient are likely oriented relative to one another such that conductive communication therebetween should be successful. The method also includes the LP sensing a signal indicative of cardiac activity of the patient over a plurality of cardiac cycles, and outputting one or more conductive communication pulses, during a portion of at least one of the cardiac cycles, wherein the portion of the at least one of the cardiac cycles is identified based on the signal that is sensed and the information that is stored.

Abstract: Methods for manufacturing implantable electronic devices include forming an antenna of the implantable electronic device by delivering an antenna trace within a dielectric antenna body. The antenna trace includes a first trace portion disposed in a first transverse layer and defining a first trace path and a second trace portion disposed in a second transverse layer longitudinally offset from the first transverse layer and defining a second trace path. If projected to be coplanar, the first trace path defines a trace boundary and the second trace path is within the trace boundary.

Abstract: A biostimulator, such as a leadless pacemaker, has electrode(s) coated with low-polarization coating(s). A low-polarization coating including titanium nitride can be disposed on an anode, and a low-polarization coating including a first layer of titanium nitride and a second layer of platinum black can be disposed on a cathode. The anode can be an attachment feature used to transmit torque to the biostimulator. The cathode can be a fixation element used to affix the biostimulator to a target tissue. The low-polarization coating(s) impart low-polarization to the electrode(s) to enable an atrial evoked response to be detected and used to effect automatic output regulation of the biostimulator. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: Described herein is a fully-differential preamplifier comprising an input differential pair, an output current load, and a current source. The current source is coupled between the input differential pair and a low voltage rail and configured to control whether the fully-differential preamplifier is operating in a first mode or a second mode, wherein the preamplifier draws more current when operating in the second mode compared to when operating in the first mode. The input differential pair is coupled between the output current load and the current source. The output current load is coupled between a high voltage rail and the input differential pair. The input differential pair comprise positive and negative inputs of the fully-differential preamplifier. Nodes where the input differential pair and the output current load are coupled to one another comprise positive and negative outputs of the fully-differential preamplifier.

Abstract: Described herein is a fully-differential receiver for use with an implantable medical device (IMD) and configured to receive conducted communication signals that are transmitted by another IMD or an external device. The fully-differential receiver includes a fully-differential preamplifier, a fully-differential buffer, a first comparator, a second comparator, and an AC coupling network coupled between differential outputs of the fully-differential buffer and a coupled together differential pair of inputs of the first and second comparators. A differential pair of inputs of the fully-differential receiver comprise the differential pair of inputs of the fully-differential preamplifier, and a differential pair of outputs of the fully-differential receiver comprise a first output of the first comparator and a second output of the second comparator. In order to conserve power, the fully-differential receiver is selectively changed from operating in a first mode to operating in a second mode, and vice versa.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present disclosure is directed to a method for providing a neural stimulation therapy to treat chronic pain of a patient. The method comprises: recording, using a neural sensing system, neural activity of the patient at one or more sites within the nervous system of the patient related to the chronic pain of the patient, modifying a computational neural modeling system to model the sensed neural activity of the patient; computing a respective neural response of the patient for each of a plurality of different temporal stimulation patterns using the modified computational neural modeling system; selecting, based on the respective neural responses, one of the plurality of temporal stimulation patterns; and programming an implantable stimulation system to provide the selected one of the plurality of temporal stimulation patterns to the patient to treat the chronic pain of the patient.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for managing atrial-ventricular (AV) delay adjustments. An AV interval is measured that corresponds to an interval between an atrial paced (Ap) event or an atrial sensed (As) event and a sensed ventricular (Vs) event. A candidate AV delay is set based on the AV interval and a bundle branch adjustment (BBA) value. A QRS characteristic of interest (COI) is measured while utilizing the candidate AV delay in connection with delivering a pacing therapy. The BBA value is adjusted and the candidate AV delay is reset based on the BBA value as adjusted. A collection of QRS COIs and corresponding candidate AV delays are obtained and one of the candidate AV delays is selected as a BBA AV delay. The pacing therapy is managed, based on the BBA AV delay.