Abstract: Disclosed herein is a catheter for delivering an implantable medical lead to an implantation site near an ostium leading to a proximal region of a coronary sinus. The catheter includes a distal end, a proximal end opposite the distal end, a tubular body extending between the distal and proximal ends, an atraumatic fixation structure defining a distal termination of the distal end, and a lead receiving lumen. The atraumatic fixation structure is configured to enter the ostium and passively pivotally anchor with the proximal region of the coronary sinus. The lead receiving lumen extends along the tubular body from the proximal end to an opening defined in a side of the tubular body near the distal end and proximal the atraumatic fixation structure.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are implantable medical devices and systems, and methods for used therewith, that selectively perform atrial overdrive pacing while an intrinsic atrial rate of a patient is within a specified range. Such a method can involve measuring intervals between a plurality of intrinsic atrial depolarizations that occur during a specified period, and classifying intrinsic atrial activity as stable or unstable based on the measured intervals. In response to classifying the intrinsic atrial activity as stable, atrial overdrive pacing is performed. In response to classifying the intrinsic atrial rate as unstable, atrial overdrive pacing is not performed (i.e., is abstained from being performed). Over time, effectiveness of performing atrial overdrive pacing using various different atrial interval shorting deltas are recorded in a log and updated, and the log is used to determine a preferred rate at which to perform atrial overdrive pacing for various different measured intervals.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a battery, a cathode for a battery, and a method for making a cathode and a battery are provided. The method comprises the steps of at least combining an electrode active material, one or more conductive diluents, a binder and a solvent to form an electrode active mixture having a first solvent to powder weight ratio, reducing a solvent to powder weight ratio to form a paste, feeding the paste into a plastic tube; and calendering the plastic tube. A dry cathode mixture is provided. The dry cathode mixture includes a cathode active material, a conductive diluent and a polymeric binder. A solvent is mixed with the dry mixture to form a slurry. Solvent is removed from the slurry to form a doughy composition. The doughy composition is calender sheeted to form a sheet. The sheet is baked at a temperature of 30° C. to 120° C. for 15 minutes to 6 hours to form a dry sheet. The dry sheet is cut into coupons. The coupons are pressed to form a pressed coupon.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a screw-in lead implantable in the pericardium of a patient heart and a system for delivering such leads to an implantation location. The leads include a helical tip electrode and a curate body including a defibrillator coil with improved contact between the defibrillator coil and the patient heart. The delivery system includes a delivery catheter and lead receiving sheath disposed within the catheter. A fixation tine is disposed on one of the delivery catheter and the lead receiving sheath such that the delivery system may be anchored into the pericardium during fixation of the screw-in lead. In certain implementations, an implantable sleeve receives the leads to bias the defibrillator coil against the patient heart.

Abstract: Systems and methods for His bundle pacing and classifying response to pacing impulses include applying, using a pulse generator, an impulse through a stimulating electrode to induce a response from a patient heart. A response to the impulse is measured using at least one sensing electrode and time-domain based characteristics of the response are analyzed to determine whether His bundle capture has occurred and, if so, what type of capture has occurred.

Abstract: Systems and methods for His bundle pacing and classifying response to pacing impulses include applying, using a pulse generator, an impulse through a stimulating electrode to induce a response from a patient heart. A response to the impulse is measured using at least one sensing electrode and frequency characteristics of the response are analyzed to determine whether His bundle capture has occurred and, if so, what type of capture has occurred. To facilitate analysis, the response measured from the patient heart may also be filtered to pass or stop frequencies indicative of certain capture types.

Abstract: Implementations described and claimed herein provide systems and methods for delivering and retrieving a leadless pacemaker. In one implementation, a leadless pacemaker has a docking end, and the docking end having a docking projection extending from a surface. A docking cap has a body defining a chamber. The docking cap has a proximal opening into the chamber. The proximal opening is coaxial with a longitudinal axis of a lumen of a catheter. A retriever has a flexible grasper with a first arm disposed opposite a second arm. Each of the first arm and the second arm form a hinge biased radially outwards from the longitudinal axis. The docking cap locks the first arm and the second arm on the docking projection when the body is sheathed over the retriever until the flexible grasper is disposed within the chamber.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of etching anode foil in a non-uniform manner which minimizes thermal oxidation during foil cutting. Having less oxide improves the ability to cut through aluminum anodes with lower energy rates. In aluminum foils, it has been found that a masking step before etching reduces conversion of boehmite aluminum oxide to alpha-phase corundum during laser cutting of anodes, which increases edge quality and productivity. Additionally, the non-etched anode frame allows for less surface area to form during the aging process. As a result, the leakage current is reduced by the proportion of edge to anode surface area, and the aging process will be faster, leading to higher productivity.

Abstract: Described herein are implantable systems and devices, and methods for use therewith, that distinguish between different signal components of interest in sensed physiologic signals with high sensitivity and specificity. Such a method can include obtaining a sensed signal using an IMD and using a plurality of different filters that are parallel to one another to simultaneously filter the sensed signal, and/or copies thereof, to produce different filtered signals. Where each filter has a respective passband that does not substantially overlap with the passband(s) of the other filter(s), each of the different filtered signals will be indicative of different frequency content of the sensed signal. Additionally, amplitudes of temporally aligned peaks in at least two of the different filtered signals can be detected, and one or more peaks of the sensed signal can be classified based on the detected amplitudes of the temporally aligned peaks in the different filtered signals.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an implantable medical device for implantation against cardiac tissue in the administration of electrotherapy to the cardiac tissue. The device includes a distal end and a monolithic controlled release device. The distal end includes a housing structure and a cavity within the housing structure. The cavity opens exterior the implantable medical device via a distal opening. The monolithic controlled release device is within the cavity and proximal the distal opening. The monolithic controlled release device includes a distal face, a proximal face opposite the distal face, an outer circumferential surface extending between the distal face and the proximal face, and a spline-shaped inner lumen extending between the distal face and the proximal face and radially inward from the outer circumferential surface. The monolithic controlled release device further includes an active pharmaceutical ingredient.

Abstract: A leadless cardiac pacemaker is provided which can include any number of features. In one embodiment, the pacemaker can include a tip electrode, pacing electronics disposed on a p-type substrate in an electronics housing, the pacing electronics being electrically connected to the tip electrode, an energy source disposed in a cell housing, the energy source comprising a negative terminal electrically connected to the cell housing and a positive terminal electrically connected to the pacing electronics, wherein the pacing electronics are configured to drive the tip electrode negative with respect to the cell housing during a stimulation pulse. The pacemaker advantageously allows p-type pacing electronics to drive a tip electrode negative with respect to the can electrode when the can electrode is directly connected to a negative terminal of the cell. Methods of use are also provided.

Abstract: A system and method for performing deep brain stimulation (DBS) therapy are provided. The method and system include pre-operatively acquiring at least one pre-operative image of the brain with at least one imaging sub-system and determining a location of a Nucleus Basalls of Meynert (NBM) for therapy in the at least one pre-operative image, and intra-operatively acquiring at least one intra-operative image of the brain after obtaining an access opening through the skull. The method and system further provide performing surgical planning based on the pre-operative image in the intra-operative image, advancing a lead having DBS electrodes on the lead to a target position proximate to or within the NBM area, and coupling the lead to an implantable pulse generator (IPG) configured to deliver DBS pulses through the DBS electrodes to the NBM. Further, the IPG is configured to deliver DBS pulses for treating symptoms associated with Alzheimer's disease.

Abstract: A leadless cardiac pacemaker is provided which can include any number of features. In one embodiment, the pacemaker can include a tip electrode, pacing electronics disposed on a p-type substrate in an electronics housing, the pacing electronics being electrically connected to the tip electrode, an energy source disposed in a cell housing, the energy source comprising a negative terminal electrically connected to the cell housing and a positive terminal electrically connected to the pacing electronics, wherein the pacing electronics are configured to drive the tip electrode negative with respect to the cell housing during a stimulation pulse. The pacemaker advantageously allows p-type pacing electronics to drive a tip electrode negative with respect to the can electrode when the can electrode is directly connected to a negative terminal of the cell. Methods of use are also provided.

Abstract: A computer Implemented method and system for detecting arrhythmias in cardiac activity are provided. The method is under control of one or more processors configured with specific executable instructions. The method obtains far field cardiac activity (CA) signals and applies a direction related responsiveness (DRR) filter to the CA signals to produce DRR filtered signals. The method compares a current sample from the CA signals to a prior sample from the DRR filtered signals to identify a direction characteristic of the CA signals and defines the DRR filter based on a timing constant that is set based on the direction characteristic identified. The method analyzes the CA signals in connection with the DRR filtered signals to identify a peak characteristic of the CA signals and determines peak to peak intervals between successive peak characteristic. The method detects at least one of noise or an arrhythmia based on the peak to peak intervals and records results of the detecting.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an implantable electronic device for use with an implantable medical lead. The implantable electronic device includes a housing and a header connector assembly coupled to the housing and adapted to receive the proximal lead end of the implantable medical lead. The header connector assembly includes a connector assembly including a connector, a feedthrough extending through the housing, and a conductor coupling the feedthrough to the connector. The conductor includes a first conductor segment and a second conductor segment offset from the first conductor segment and each of the first conductor segment and the second conductor segment are resistance welded to the connector.

Abstract: Implantable cardioverter device (ICD) systems capable of delivering a multi-vector defibrillation shock, and methods for use therewith, are described herein. Such an ICD system can include a defibrillation charge capacitor, a charge circuit, first, second, and third electrodes, switches, a controller, and first, second and third filters. The defibrillation charge capacitor is coupled between a first voltage rail and a second voltage rail. The first filter is coupled between the first and second electrodes, and the second filter is coupled between the second and third electrodes, so that the first and second filters can shunt EMI signals. The third filter is coupled between the first and third electrodes and configured to provide for electrical symmetry when the first, second, and third electrodes are used to deliver a multi-vector defibrillation shock. Such filters, which can be implemented using capacitors, can be used to make the ICD system MRI compatible.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an implantable electronic device. The device includes a housing and a header connector assembly coupled to the housing. The header connector assembly includes a DF4/IS4 assembly and a header including a bore. The DF4/IS4 assembly is locked within the bore via a locking datum arrangement that exists between the DF4/IS4 assembly and the header.

Abstract: An implantable medical device and method are provided for comprising a sensing circuit that is configured to sense and output physiologic data indicative of a physiologic characteristic of a patient and at least one processor. A memory is coupled to the at least one processor. The memory stores program instructions and processed data. The program instructions are executable by the at least one processor to execute general operational functions within the IMD. A hybrid signal processing (HSP) circuit is coupled to the at least one processor and the sensing circuit. The HSP circuit is adapted to filter the physiologic data. The HSP circuit comprises a plurality of first order filters, a plurality of higher order filters, and a switch matrix that is configured to interconnect a combination of the first and higher order filters to form a hybrid digital filter having a select composite frequency response that utilizes no more than a select power demand.

Abstract: A method for managing power during communication with an implantable medical device, including establishing a communications link, utilizing a power corresponding to a session start power, to initiate a current session between an implantable medical device (IMD) and external device. A telemetry break condition of the communications link is monitored during the current session. The power utilized by the IMD is adjusted between low and high power levels, during the current session based on the telemetry break condition. The number of sessions is counted, including the current session and one or more prior sessions, in which the IMD utilized the higher power level, and a level for the session start power to be utilized to initiate a next session following the current session is adaptively learned based on the counting of the number of sessions.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are implantable medical devices and systems, and methods for used therewith, that selectively perform atrial overdrive pacing while an intrinsic atrial rate of a patient is within a specified range. Such a method can involve measuring intervals between a plurality of intrinsic atrial depolarizations that occur during a specified period, and classifying intrinsic atrial activity as stable or unstable based on the measured intervals. In response to classifying the intrinsic atrial activity as stable, atrial overdrive pacing is performed. In response to classifying the intrinsic atrial rate as unstable, atrial overdrive pacing is not performed (i.e., is abstained from being performed). Over time, effectiveness of performing atrial overdrive pacing using various different atrial interval shorting deltas are recorded in a log and updated, and the log is used to determine a preferred rate at which to perform atrial overdrive pacing for various different measured intervals.