Abstract: An implantable cardiac monitoring device and method of manufacture are provided. The device comprises a device housing having electronic components therein. A feedthrough assembly is joined to the device housing. The device comprises an antenna. A header body is mounted to the device housing and encloses the antenna and feedthrough assembly. The antenna includes a pin mounting section and a plate shaped radiating section. The pin mounting and radiating sections are interconnected by a ribbon section having a predetermined length to at least partially tune the antenna to a communication frequency. The radiating section is positioned proximate to, and shaped to extend along, an outer surface of the header body.

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 has a docking projection extending from a surface. A docking cap has a body defining a chamber. A retriever has sheaths extending with lumens distally from the chamber. A snare extends between the lumens forming a first snare loop pointing in a first direction and a second snare loop pointing in a second direction with a docking space formed therebetween. The snare is movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position by translating the first snare wire and the second snare wire within the first snare lumen and the second snare lumen. The engaged position includes the first snare wire and the second snare wire tightened around the docking projection within the docking space.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for assembling a subassembly for use in manufacturing an implantable device header. A method includes placing a first split web into a top platen, placing a second split web into a bottom platen, placing a conductor assembly and an antenna assembly in the bottom platen on top of the second split web, compressing the top and bottom platens together, heating the top and bottom platens until a predetermined temperature and a predetermined pressure are reached, such that first split web is fused to the second split web to form the subassembly, separating the top and bottom platens, and removing the formed subassembly.

Abstract: A subcutaneous implantable medical device and method (SIMD) provided. A pulse generator (PG) is configured to be positioned subcutaneously within a lateral region of a chest of a patient. The PG has a housing that includes a PG electrode. The PG has an electronics module. An elongated lead is electrically coupled to the pulse generator. The elongated lead includes a first electrode that is configured to be positioned along a first parasternal region proximate a sternum of the patient and a second electrode that is configured to be positioned at an anterior region of the patient. The first and second electrodes are coupled to be electrically common with one another. The electronics module is configured to provide electrical shocks for antiarrhythmic therapy along at least one shocking vector between the PG electrode and the first and second electrodes.

Abstract: Methods, devices and program products are provided for controlling a left univentricular (LUV) pacing therapy using an implantable medical device. Electrodes are configured to be located proximate to an atrial (A) site, left ventricular (LV) site and right ventricular (RV) site of the heart. A conduction different ? is determined based on i) an atrial-ventricular conduction delay (ARRV) between the A site and the RV site, and ii) an atrial-ventricular conduction delay (ARLV) between the A site and the LV site. A correction term ? is based on intrinsic inter-ventricular conduction delay (IVCD) between the LV and RV. An LV atrial-ventricular pacing (AVLV) delay is set based on the conduction difference ?, a pacing latency PL and the correction term ? and manages the LUV pacing therapy based on the AVLV delay, wherein the LUV pacing therapy lacks pacing in the RV.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for implantable medical devices. The device comprises a device housing that has an electronics module, an electrode, an antenna, and a header that has a main body. The main body is formed of a ceramic material that includes side walls, a distal end and a proximal mounting end. The main body has an electrode retention region and an antenna retention platform. The antenna extends along the antenna retention platform. The electrode is provided at the electrode retention region. The mounting end includes electrode and antenna connectors. The main body includes a first plated trace formed through the ceramic material to be electrically coupled to the electronics module in the device housing. Between the antenna and the antenna connector, the main body includes a second plated trace formed through the ceramic material between the electrode and the electrode connector.

Abstract: Catheter-based delivery systems for delivery and retrieval of a leadless pacemaker include features to facilitate improved manipulation of the catheter and improved capture and docking functionality of leadless pacemakers. Such functionality includes mechanisms directed to deflecting and locking a deflectable catheter, maintaining tension on a retrieval feature, protection from anti-rotation, and improved docking cap and drive gear assemblies.

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 feedthru extending through the housing, and a conductor coupling the feedthru 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: A resistance weld shielding control system includes a computer that is executed to control a fixture to receive and hold at least one part to be welded. The computer also controls one or more electrodes to apply electrical energy to the part for welding the at least one part, and controls a gas delivery system to direct an inert gas onto the part for shielding the part from the ambient atmosphere via a nozzle. The nozzle is configured in the fixture such that the fixture holds the nozzle in a fixed physical relationship to the part.

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 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: Catheter-based delivery systems for delivery and retrieval of a leadless pacemaker include features to facilitate improved manipulation of the catheter and improved capture and docking functionality of leadless pacemakers. Such functionality includes mechanisms directed to deflecting and locking a deflectable catheter, maintaining tension on a retrieval feature, protection from anti-rotation, and improved docking cap and drive gear assemblies.

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: A computer implemented method and system for confirming a device documented arrhythmia in cardiac activity are provided. The method is under control of one or more processors configured with executable instructions. The method obtains a cardiac activity (CA) data set that includes CA signals for a series of cardiac events and includes device documented (DD) markers within the series of cardiac events. The device documented markers are indicative of atrial fibrillation (AF) detected by the ICM utilizing an on-board R-R interval irregularity (ORI) process to analyze the CA signals. The method applies a feature enhancement function to the CA signals to form modified CA signals with enhanced sinus features and analyzes the enhanced sinus features in the modified CA signals. The method utilized a confirmatory feature detection process to identify false AF detection by the ORI process. The method records a result of the analysis identifying false AF detection by the ORI process.

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: Implantable medical devices (IMDs), and methods for use therewith, reduce how often an IMD accepts false messages. Such a method can include receiving a message and performing error detection and correction on the message. Such a method can also include determining a quality measure indicative of a quality of the message and/or a quality of a channel over which the message was received, and determining whether to reject the message based on the quality measure.

Abstract: Methods for implanting a puke generator (PG) within a pectoral region of a chest of a patient and devices having the PG. The PG has a housing that includes a PG electrode. Methods also include implanting at least one lead having first and second electrode segments with the first electrode segment positioned along an anterior of the chest of the patient and the second electrode segment positioned along at least one of a posterior of the patient or a side of the patient. The first and second electrode segments are positioned subcutaneously at or below an apex of a heart of the patient, wherein the PG electrode and the first and second electrode segments are configured to provide electrical shocks for antiarrhythmic therapy.

Abstract: A battery includes a case having a feedthrough port, a feedthrough assembly disposed in the feedthrough port, and a cell stack disposed within the case. The feedthrough port includes an inner conductor and an insulator core separating the inner conductor from the case. The cell stack includes an anode, a cathode, and a separator insulating the anode from the cathode, wherein the anode and cathode are offset from one another. An insulating boot surrounding the cell stack insulates the cell stack from the case. The insulating boot has an opening configured to receive therein the feedthrough assembly, which may include overmolded insulation. The interior surfaces and interior walls of the battery case may be thermal spray-coated with a dielectric material to prevent lithium dendrite formation between cathode and anode surfaces.