Abstract: Described herein are implantable medical devices (IMDs), and methods for use therewith, that enable monitoring of impedance associated with a pathway (e.g., including a lead) used to selectively deliver stimulation pulses to patient tissue. A method involves measuring or storing a first voltage indicative of the energy stored on a reservoir capacitor (Cres) just prior to a stimulation pulse being delivered via the pathway, as well as measuring or storing a second voltage indicative of the energy stored on the Cres just after the stimulation pulse is delivered via the pathway. The method also includes monitoring the impedance associated with the pathway based on a difference between the first and second voltages, which may involve determining a count value indicative of how long it takes to discharge the first voltage to drop to the second voltage, wherein the count value is a surrogate of the impedance associated with the pathway.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for detecting arrhythmias in cardiac activity is provided. The systems and methods include measuring conduction delays between an atria (A) and multiple left ventricular (LV) electrodes to obtain multiple intrinsic A/LV intervals, measuring conduction delays between a right ventricular (RV) and the multiple LV electrodes to obtain multiple intrinsic VV intervals. The systems and methods include calculating a first atrial ventricular (AV) delay based on at least one of the intrinsic A/LV intervals, and calculating a second AV delay based on at least one of the intrinsic VV intervals. The systems and methods include selecting a biventricular (BiV) pacing mode or an LV only pacing mode based on a relation between the first and second AV delays, and delivering a pacing therapy based on the selecting operation.

Abstract: Described herein is an implantable medical device (IMD) that wirelessly communicates another IMD, and methods for use therewith. Such a method can include receiving one or more implant-to-implant (i2i) communication signals from the other IMD using a communication receiver of the IMD, measuring a strength of at least one of the one or more received i2i communication signals or a surrogate thereof, and updating a strength metric based on the measured strength or surrogate thereof. The method further includes determining, based on the updated strength metric, whether to increase, decrease, or maintain the sensitivity of the communication receiver of the IMD, and responding accordingly such that the sensitivity is sometimes increased, sometimes decreased, and sometimes maintained. The method can also include selectively causing a transmitter of the IMD to transmit an i2i communication signal to the other IMD requesting that the other IMD adjust its transmission strength.

Abstract: Anode foil, preferably aluminum anode foil, is etched using a process of treating the foil in an electrolyte bath composition comprising a perfluoroalkylsulfonate, a sulfate, a halide, and an oxidizing agent. The anode foil is etched in the electrolyte bath composition by passing a direct current charge through the bath. The etched anode foil is suitable for use in an electrolytic capacitor.

Abstract: Systems for monitoring left atrial pressure using implantable cardiac monitoring devices and, more specifically, to a left atrial pressure sensor implanted through a septal wall are presented herein.

Abstract: Methods, devices and program products are provided for determining an early battery depletion condition for a battery powered device. The method determines a charge consumption drawn externally from a battery cell by the device for a select period of time, obtains a measured cell voltage for the battery cell of the medical device, calculates a projected cell voltage based on the charge consumption and usage conditions, and declares an early depletion condition based on a relation between the measured and projected cell voltages.

Abstract: A system for validating safety of a medical device in a presence of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) field is provided. The system includes a first electric field generating device configured to form first electric field and configured to receive a medical device at least partially within the first electric field, and a second electric field generating device configured to form a second electric field in proximity to the first electric field and configured to receive the medical device at least partially within the second electric field.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing bi-directional communication between an external device (ED) and an implantable medical device (IMD) are provided. The method comprises receiving an active ED configuration and a request for communications parameters to be used with the active ED configuration. The method further comprises identifying a pre-existing configuration, from a collection of pre-existing configurations that match the active ED configuration, the collection of pre-existing configurations having an associated collection of predefined parameter sets. The method further determines a resultant parameter set from the collection of predefined parameter sets based on the pre-existing configuration identified and returns the resultant parameter set in connection with the request, the resultant parameter set to be utilized by the ED for bi-directional communication with the IMD.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for detecting pocket stability for an implantable cardiac monitor, including under control of one or more processors in the ICM, collecting impedance data over at least one cardiac cycle. The impedance data is processed to separate an impedance waveform that varies over the at least one cardiac cycle in a manner representative of cardiac functionality over the at least one cardiac cycle. A characteristic of interest is analyzed from the impedance waveform over the at least one cardiac cycle. A pocket stability state of the ICM is identified and recorded based on the analyzing operation.

Abstract: A computer implemented method and device for providing dual chamber sensing with a single chamber leadless implantable medical device (LIMD) are provided. The method is under control of one or more processors in the LIMD configured with specific executable instructions. The method obtains a far field (FF) cardiac activity (CA) signals for activity in a remote chamber of a heart and compares the far field CA signals to a P-wave template to identify an event of interest associated with the remote chamber. The method sets an atrial-ventricular (AV) delay based on the P-wave identified and delivers pacing pulses at a pacing site of interest to a local chamber based on the AV delay.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for managing patient activated capture of transient data by an implantable medical device (IMD). The systems and methods collect transient data using the IMD. The collected transient data is stored in a temporary memory section of the IMD. The IMD receives a patient activated storage request including activation information related to a patient designated trigger point from an external device. The IMD transfers a segment of the transient data from the temporary memory section to a long-term memory, wherein the segment of transferred transient data is based on the trigger point. The activation information includes an elapsed time corresponding to a duration of time between entry of the trigger point and issuance of the patient activated storage request by an external activation device.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are implantable medical devices (IMDs) including a receiver and a battery, and methods for use therewith. The receiver includes first and second differential amplifiers, each of which monitors for a predetermined signal within a frequency range and drains power from the battery while enabled, and while not enabled drains substantially no power from the battery. To remove undesirable input offset voltages, each of the differential amplifiers, while enabled, is selectively put into an offset correction phase during which time the predetermined signal is not detectable by the differential amplifier. At any given time at least one of the first and second differential amplifiers is enabled without being in the offset correction phase so that at least one of the differential amplifiers is always monitoring for the predetermined signal. In this manner, the receiver is never blind to signals, including the predetermined signals, sent by another IMD.

Abstract: Described herein are methods, devices, and systems that estimate a total amount of time it takes to discharge a battery of an IMD from initial to subsequent capacity levels, which total amount of time is indicative of a longevity of the IMD. In certain embodiments, a range of capacity levels for the battery is separated into N separate intervals. For each of the N intervals, an estimate of an amount of time it takes for the battery to discharge from a beginning to an end of the interval is determined, to thereby determine N amounts of time that are summed to estimate the total amount of time that it takes to discharge the battery from the initial to subsequent capacity levels. In other embodiments, an iterative equation is used to estimate the total amount of time takes it takes to discharge the battery from the initial to subsequent capacity levels.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for, under control of one or more processors within an implantable medical device (IMD), delivering cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) at one or more pacing sites. The processors obtain cardiac signals, associated with a candidate beat, from multi-site left ventricular (MSLV) electrodes distributed along a left ventricle and analyze the cardiac signals to collect at least one of a MSLV conduction pattern or a MSLV morphology. The processors compare at least one of the MSLV conduction pattern or MSLV morphology to one or more associated templates. The processors then label the candidate beat as a pseudo-fusion beat based on the comparing and adjust the CRT based on the labeling.

Abstract: Techniques for use with an implantable medical device (IMD) reduce how often a first receiver of the IMD wakes up a second receiver thereof to reduce power consumption. A received message and/or a channel over which messages can be received is/are examined, and a value is adjusted based on results thereof. After being adjusted, the value is compared to a first threshold if the IMD is in a normal state, or compared to a second threshold if the IMD is in a noise state. If in the normal state, there is a determination whether to stay in the normal state or switch to the noise state. If in the noise state, there is a determination whether to stay in the noise state or switch to the normal state. At least the second receiver is temporarily put to sleep, if the IMD is maintained in or switched to the noise state.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an aluminum electrolytic capacitor includes impregnating an aluminum electrolytic capacitor with a first electrolyte to form a first impregnated capacitor, aging the first impregnated capacitor using a first aging process to form a first aged capacitor, impregnating the first aged capacitor with a second electrolyte to form a second impregnated capacitor, the second electrolyte being different from the first electrolyte, aging the second impregnated capacitor using a final aging process to form a final aged capacitor, and impregnating the final aged capacitor with a third electrolyte.

Abstract: A method, system and external instrument are provided. The method initiates a communication link between an external instrument (EI) and an implantable medical device (IMD), established a first connection interval for conveying data packets between the EI and IMD and monitors a connection criteria that includes at least one of a data throughput requirement. A battery indicator or link condition of the communications link is between the IMD and EI. The method further changes from the first connection interval to a second connection interval based on the connection criteria.

Abstract: A tool adapted for insertion into a physiological lumen of a patient is provided. The tool includes a hub, a core extending distally from the hub, and a printed circuit board (PCB) assembly. The PCB assembly includes a PCB substrate coupled to the core and an electronic component disposed on the PCB substrate and electrically coupled to the hub. The tool further includes an outer sheath disposed about each of the core and the PCB assembly. The PCB substrate may be in the form of a ring disposed at a distal end or about the core or may be a flexible PCB substrate adapted to be wrapped about the core and coupled to the core using an adhesive backing.

Abstract: A device includes an electrode stack including a plurality of conductive anodes, a plurality of conductive cathodes, a plurality of separators arranged between the conductive anodes and the conductive cathodes, and a dielectric material disposed on a surface of each of the conductive anodes. The stack has a top surface, a bottom surface, and an edge extending between the top surface and the bottom surface. A continuous electrically insulating film overlies the edge, peripheral portions of the top surface and peripheral portions of the bottom surface so that a central portion of the top surface and a central portion of the bottom surface are exposed. An electrolyte is disposed between the conductive anodes and the conductive cathodes.

Abstract: Implementations described and claimed herein provide thin film devices and methods of manufacturing and implanting the same. In one implementation, a shaped insulator is formed having an inner surface, an outer surface, and a profile shaped according to a selected dielectric use. A layer of conductive traces is fabricated on the inner surface of the shaped insulator using biocompatible metallization. An insulating layer is applied over the layer of conductive traces. An electrode array and a connection array are fabricated on the outer surface of the shaped insulator and/or the insulating layer, and the electrode array and the connection array are in electrical communication with the layer of conductive traces to form a flexible circuit. The implantable thin film device is formed from the flexible circuit according to the selected dialectic use.