Abstract: A method of manufacturing a filtered feedthrough assembly for use with an implantable medical device. The method may include gold brazing an insulator to a flange at first braze joint, and gold brazing a plurality of feedthrough wire to the insulator at second braze joints. The method may further include applying a first non-conductive epoxy to the first braze joint, and applying a second non-conductive epoxy to the second braze joint. The method may further include grit blasting a face of the flange, applying a conductive epoxy to the face of the flange, and attaching an EMI filter to the conductive epoxy such that it is grounded to the flange via the conductive epoxy and not via the first braze joint or the second braze joints.

Abstract: A method of screening a battery for failure mechanisms is provided. The method may include activating an electrochemical cell. Within 5 minutes to two hours of activating the cell, the open circuit voltage of the cell is measured over a period of time to determine a voltage versus time function. The cell is then screened for the presence of a failure mechanism by checking the voltage versus time function for a failure criteria.

Abstract: A method and device for managing establishment of a communications link between an external instrument (EI) and an implantable medical device (IMD) are provided. The method stores, in a memory in at least one of the IMD or the EI, a base scanning schedule that defines a pattern for scanning windows over a scanning state. The method enters the scanning state during which a receiver scans for advertisement notices during the scanning windows. At least a portion of the scanning windows are grouped in a first segment of the scanning state. The method stores, in the memory, a scan reset pattern for restarting the scanning state. Further, the method automatically restarts the scanning state based on the scan reset pattern to form a pseudo-scanning schedule that differs from the base scanning schedule and establishes a communication session between the IMD and the EI.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for determining a proposed ablation site in a cardiac chamber. A system includes an implanted device configured to record a plurality of intracardiac electrogram (IEGM) couples, and a mapping and ablation system communicatively coupled to the implanted device. The mapping and ablation system is configured to receive the recorded plurality of IEGM couples from the implanted device, calculate a parameter for each of the plurality of IEGM couples, determine, based on the calculated parameters, an area of origin for each IEGM couple, and determine an intersection between the determined areas of origin, wherein the intersection represents the proposed ablation site in the cardiac chamber.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an implantable electronic device for use with implantable medical leads. The implantable medical leads are retained within the implantable electronic device with coated setscrews and, in particular, setscrews having a vapor-deposited coating, such as parylene. The coated setscrews have improved thread locking capabilities that resist unscrewing once tightened and, as a result, improve retention of implantable leads within the implantable electronic device.

Abstract: Devices and methods for dynamically controlling sensitivity associated with detecting R-waves while maintaining the fixed detection threshold are described herein. One such method includes sensing an analog signal indicative of cardiac electrical activity, converting the analog signal indicative of cardiac electrical activity to a digital signal indicative of cardiac electrical activity, and detecting R-waves by comparing the digital signal indicative of cardiac electrical activity to a fixed detection threshold to thereby detect threshold crossings that corresponds to R-waves. The method further includes selectively adjusting a gain applied to the digital signal indicative of cardiac electrical activity to thereby selectively adjust a sensitivity associated with the detecting R-waves, while maintaining the fixed detection threshold.

Abstract: A biostimulator, such as a leadless cardiac pacemaker, including an electrical feedthrough assembly mounted on a housing, is described. An electronics compartment of the housing can contain an electronics assembly to generate a pacing impulse, and the electrical feedthrough assembly can include an electrode tip to deliver the pacing impulse to a target tissue. A monolithically formed electrode body can have a pin integrated with a cup. The pin can be electrically connected to the electronics assembly, and the cup can be electrically connected to the electrode tip. Accordingly, the biostimulator can transmit the pacing impulse through the monolithic pin and cup to the target tissue. The cup can hold a filler having a therapeutic agent for delivery to the target tissue and may include retention elements for maintaining the filler at a predetermined location within the cup.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present technology relate to temperature sensors for using in an implantable medical device, and methods for use therewith. Such a method can include alternating between producing a first base-to-emitter voltage drop (VBE1) and a second base-to-emitter voltage drop (VBE2), and alternating between using a capacitor to store the VBE1, which is complimentary to absolute temperature (CTAT), and using the same capacitor to store a ?VBE=VBE2?VBE1, which is proportion to absolute temperature (PTAT). The method also includes using a sigma-delta modulator that includes the capacitor to produce a signal having a duty cycle (dc) indicative of the ?VBE stored using the capacitor, and producing a temperature measurement based on the signal having the duty cycle (dc) indicative of the ?VBE.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to implantable medical devices (IMDs) and methods for use therewith. Such a method includes enabling a communication capability of an IMD during a message alert period and monitoring for a message while the communication capability is enabled during the message alert period. In response to receiving a message during the message alert period, there is a determination whether the message is valid or invalid. If the message is invalid, the message is ignored, and an invalid message count is incremented. A further message is monitored for during the message alert period occurs, when the invalid message count has not yet reached a corresponding invalid message count threshold. The communication capability of the IMD is disabled for a disable period, when the invalid message count reaches the corresponding invalid message count threshold. If a valid message is received, the IMD acts upon information included therein.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for managing residual charge for multi-point pacing therapy. The method and system provide an electrode configuration that includes an atrial (A) electrode, a right ventricular (RV) electrode and multiple left ventricular (LV) electrodes. The method and system deliver pacing pulses for an MPP therapy, during a first cardiac cycle, from a pulse generator to the electrode configurations. The pacing pulses are separated by pacing pulse (PP) intervals. The method and system dynamically adjust at least one of a timing or a duration of discharge pulses for the residual charge to form a discharge sequence. The method and system activate the discharge pulses based on the discharge sequence, during the first cardiac cycle, to the multiple LV electrodes to distribute the residual charge across the PP intervals.

Abstract: Example electronic devices, including but not limited to implantable medical devices, and methods employing dynamic announcing for creation of wireless communication connections are disclosed herein. In an example, an electronic device includes a wireless communication interface to transmit announcement signals for creating a wireless communication connection with the external device. The electronic device also includes a sensor to detect a characteristic of an environment external to the electronic device, and a control circuit including an announcement timing control module to dynamically control timing of the announcement signals based on the detected characteristic.

Abstract: A fully implantable trial neurostimulation system for implant within a patient is provided that includes one or more leads equipped to deliver neurostimulation to patient tissues under the control of a trial neurostimulation control device designed as a capsule for removable implant within the patient. The control capsule is provided with minimal components to power and control the delivery of neurostimulation during a trial evaluation period and is shaped and configured to facilitate removal from the patient following completion of the trial period. In some examples, both the lead and the trial control capsule are removed from the patient following the trial period for replacement with a chronic or long-term neurostimulation system (assuming further neurostimulation is warranted.) In other examples, the lead remains within the patient and the trial control capsule is replaced with a long-term neurostimulation controller device. Various minimally-intrusive implantation procedures are also described.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for retrieving an implantable device. An implantable device includes a casing, and a marker coupled to the casing, wherein the marker includes a detectable material encased in a biocompatible material, and wherein the marker facilitates accurately locating and retrieving the implantable device after implantation in a patient.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are presented for cleaning the tunnels of an electrochemically etched anode foil. The apparatus includes a tank, a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, and one or more tranducers. The tank is designed to receive a plurality of cartridges, each of the plurality of cartridges having a reservoir and being designed to hold a metal foil. The fluid inlet and fluid outlet are coupled with at least one of the plurality of cartridges, and are designed to introduce and expel, respectively, a liquid from the reservoir within at least one of the plurality of cartridges. The one or more transducers are coupled to at least one wall of each reservoir, the one or more transducers being designed to sonicate the liquid within each reservoir at a frequency less than 300 Hz.

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

Abstract: An implantable medical device and method are provided for implant within a patient. The device comprises a case. Radio frequency (RF) communication components are housed within the case. A header is mounted to an exterior surface of the case along an edge of the case. An antenna is coupled to the RF communication components. The antenna has an inverted E shape. The inverted E shaped antenna is within the header. The inverted E shaped antenna includes a conducting arm joined to first, second and third branches that are oriented within the header to extend toward the edge of the case underneath the header. The first branch of the antenna is conductively open and, no more than weakly coupled, with respect to the case. The second branch is located between the first and third branches. The second branch is configured to convey an RF signal feed. The third branch has a shunt to ground connection to the case. The case forms a ground plane for the antenna.

Abstract: Methods and devices are is provided for controlling a pacing therapy utilizing left ventricular multi-point pacing (MPP). The method and device provide electrodes configured to be located proximate to an atrial (A) site, a right ventricular (RV) site and multiple left ventricular (LV) sites of the heart. The method and device utilizes one or more processors. The processors determine atrial-ventricular conduction delays (AVCD) between the A site and multiple corresponding LV sites and determines pacing latencies at the LV sites. The processors adjusts the AVCDs, based on the pacing latency at the corresponding LV sites, to form atrial-ventricular latency adjusted (ARPL) conduction delays for the corresponding LV sites, calculates interventricular pacing (VV) delays for combinations of the LV sites based on the corresponding ARPL conduction delays and manages pacing therapy, that utilizes left ventricular MPP, based on the VV delays for the corresponding LV sites.

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: Disclosed herein is an implantable electronic device having a housing containing an electrical circuit. The implantable electronic device further includes an antenna assembly coupled to the electrical circuit. The antenna assembly has an antenna with a dielectric antenna body within which an antenna trace is disposed. Portions of the antenna trace are disposed in offset transverse layers in a non-overlapping arrangement, thereby reducing capacitive coupling between the layers of the antenna trace. In certain implementations, the antenna assembly has one or more capacitive features that selectively overlap portions of the antenna trace and facilitate tuning of the antenna.

Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for a leadless implantable medical device (LIMD) comprising a housing. An electrode is disposed on the housing. An electronics circuit is disposed in the housing and is configured to sense cardiac signals, and/or generate and deliver pacing signals to the electrode. A transceiver circuit is disposed in the housing, and is configured to communicate wirelessly with an external device. A fixation antenna electrically separate from the electrode is disposed on a distal portion of the housing and is electrically coupled to the transceiver circuit, and configured to operate as an antenna for communication between the transceiver circuit and the external device.