Abstract: An exemplary method includes receiving a signal from an intrathoracic vibration sensor, analyzing the signal for vibration associated with deceleration of blood flow into the left ventricle, based at least in part on the analyzing, deciding whether to call for adjustment to one or more parameters of a bi-ventricular pacing therapy. Other exemplary methods, devices, systems, etc., are also disclosed.

Abstract: A blood glucose sensing device is provided that comprises a house having an exterior surface and that defines an interior space. The housing is configures to be located within a cardiovascular pathway of a patient. A resonant antenna is located within the interior space defined by the housing. The resonant antenna comprises an inductive reactance and a capacitive reactance. The inductive and capacitive reactance have values that define a blood glucose sensitive resonant frequency such that a resonant frequency of the resonant antenna varies in response to changes in blood glucose levels within the blood in the cardiovascular pathway surrounding the housing.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for equalizing cycle lengths among different map points during mapping studies. Different embodiments may be applicable to different circumstances and physiological settings. A compression embodiment encapsulates the entire behavior of a map point throughout its native cycle length. A truncation and rotation embodiment, and an extension and rotation embodiment allow for a more physiologically-relevant processing of the motion data.

Abstract: Improved pliable print rollers for high speed drink can printing machines increase the pliable roller life five- to ten-fold at comparable ink thickness and machine speed. The improved performance results from the selection of materials utilized including a combination of elastomers, and in some case an essentially oil-free composition, and an associated manufacturing process not previously utilized to create pliable print rollers for high speed drink can printing machines. In particular a particular embodiment, the composition includes a combination of elastomers (e.g., 75% polyisoprene and 25% polybutadiene), a filler (e.g., silica), a curing agent (e.g., peroxided), and other additives (e.g., pigment, antioxidant, antiozonant) with little or no oil added as a softener. An illustrative composition including 150 parts by weight contains 100 parts elastomer, 35 parts filler, 4 parts curing agent, and 11 parts other additives (i.e., zero parts oil softener).

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for bridging a bi-directional communication link between an external device and an implantable medical device (IMD). The systems and methods establish a first bi-directional communication link between an external device and a wireless bridge device according to a wireless protocol, and establish a second bi-directional communication link between the wireless bridge device and an IMD concurrently with the first bi-direction communication link according to the wireless protocol. The systems and methods further receive a data packet from the external device at the wireless bridge device. The data packet is received during the communication interval. The systems and methods further transmit the data packet from the wireless bridge device to the IMD during the communication interval.

Abstract: A leadless cardiac pacemaker comprises a hermetic housing, a power source disposed in the housing, at least two electrodes supported by the housing, a semiconductor temperature sensor disposed in the housing, and a controller disposed in the housing and configured to deliver energy from the power source to the electrodes to stimulate the heart based upon temperature information from the temperature sensor. In some embodiments, the sensor can be configured to sense temperature information within a predetermined range of less than 20 degrees C. The temperature sensor can be disposed in the housing but not bonded to the housing.

Abstract: Implementations of the present disclosure may take the form of an implantable electronic device such as an implantable pulse generator for administering electrotherapy via an implantable medical lead configured to couple with the implantable pulse generator, or an implantable cardiac monitor. The implantable electronic device includes a housing, a header connector assembly and a sealing member. The header connector assembly includes a connector assembly and a header enclosing the connector assembly. The sealing member is sandwiched between the header connector assembly and the housing.

Abstract: A cardiac pacing system comprising one or more leadless cardiac pacemakers configured for implantation in electrical contact with a cardiac chamber and configured to perform cardiac pacing functions in combination with a co-implanted implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). The leadless cardiac pacemaker comprises at least two leadless electrodes configured for delivering cardiac pacing pulses, sensing evoked and/or natural cardiac electrical signals, and bidirectionally communicating with the co-implanted ICD.

Abstract: Provided herein are implantable systems, and methods for use therewith, for monitoring a patient's arterial blood pressure while a patient's heart is being paced. A signal (e.g., PPG or IPG signal) indicative of changes in arterial blood volume remote from the patient's heart is obtained using a sensor or electrodes that are implanted remote from the patient's heart. One or more metrics indicative of pulse arrival time (PAT) are determined, where each metric can be determined by determining a time from a paced cardiac event to one or more predetermined features of the signal indicative of changes in arterial blood volume. Based on at the metric(s) indicative of PAT, arterial blood pressure is estimated, which can include determining values indicative of systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, pulse pressure and/or mean arterial blood pressure, and/or changes in such values.

Abstract: Methods, devices and systems are provided for selecting one or more left ventricular multi-electrode pacing site(s). The methods, devices and systems measure arrival times of LV activation events for corresponding LV sensing sites, where the arrival times each correspond to a conduction time from an intrinsic ventricular event or delivery of a pacing pulse until sensing of the corresponding LV activation event. Site-to-site (STS) relative delays are calculated as differences between the arrival times associated with adjacent LV sensing sites. The STS relative delays represent STS arrival delays for corresponding combinations of the adjacent LV sensing sites. An LV electrode combination is identified that is associated with at least one of the STS relative delays that satisfy selection criteria, where the LV electrode combination corresponds to a target tissue region exhibiting a select degree of non-uniformity.

Abstract: A method is provided for a bridge device to interface between an external device and an implantable medical device (“IMD”), the bridge device includes a system on a chip (“SoC”) having a memory, an input/output interface, a standard wireless computer network (“SWCN”) controller and a bridge controller integrated into a single integrated circuit (“IC”). The method includes configuring the bridge controller to convert data between a Medical Implant Communication Service (MICS) protocol and a SWCN protocol, coupling a MICS controller to the SoC, and configuring the MICS controller to manage operation of a first transceiver based on the MICS protocol. The method includes configuring the SWCN controller to manage operation of a second transceiver based on the SWCN protocol, communicating between the bridge device and an IMD utilizing the first transceiver, and communicating between the bridge device and an external device utilizing the second transceiver.

Abstract: The device includes radio frequency (RF) communication components installed within a case of the device and an antenna with an inverted E shape mounted within a header of the device. The antenna has three branches extending from a main arm: a capacitive branch connecting one end of the main arm to the case; an RF signal feed branch connecting a middle portion of the main arm to the internal RF components of the device via a feedthrough; and an inductive branch connecting the opposing (far) end of the main arm to the case to provide a shunt to ground.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a left ventricular lead for tracking over a guide wire into a coronary sinus and providing active fixation in, or adjacent to, the coronary sinus. The guide wire is configured for coronary sinus lead implantation and has an outer diameter. In one embodiment, the lead includes a tubular body including a proximal end, a distal end and a central lumen through which the guide wire is extendable. The lead also includes a lead connector end proximally projecting from the proximal end and comprising at least one electrical contact. The lead also includes a fixed helical anchor comprising a wire member having a diameter of between approximately 0.22 mm and approximately 0.27 mm. The wire member distally extends away from the distal end in a helical arrangement including an inner helical coil diameter that is sufficient to allow the guide wire to extend through the fixed helical anchor.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a cardiac pacing system. The cardiac pacing system includes a right atrial ring electrode, a right atrial tip electrode, a right ventricle ring electrode, and a pacing integrated circuit (IC) including a first pace output node electrically coupled to the right atrial ring electrode, a pace return node electrically coupled to the right atrial tip electrode, and a second pace output node electrically coupled to the right ventricle ring electrode, wherein the pacing IC has a fast discharge configuration that facilitates reducing or eliminating a DC rectification current generated from RF interference during a fast discharge phase.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, a leadless implantable medical device (LIMD), compromises a hermetic housing that has a distal portion and proximal portion. An electrode is proximate to the distal portion. An electronics package is disposed in the housing, in which the electronics package is configured to generate and deliver stimulation signals to the electrode. A fixation mechanism is disposed on the distal portion of the housing. A torque mechanism is disposed on the proximal portion of the housing. The torque mechanism has a tool engagement element movably coupled to the housing. The tool engagement element has a rotational force applied thereto during implant. The torque mechanism includes a torque limiter that maintains a fixed relation between the tool engagement element and the housing when in an engaged state. The torque limiter changes from the engaged state to a disengaged state when the rotational force exceeds a predetermined torque limit.

Abstract: Described herein are methods, devices, and systems for treating human anemia. The methods, devices, and systems generally include monitoring a patients hemoglobin level and at least one of autonomic balance and inflammatory state to determine the etiology of the anemic state, modulating at least one of a sympathetic or parasympathetic nerve based on the cause of the anemia, monitoring for changes in the patients cardiac activity and state of inflammation, and hemoglobin level. An external neurostimulation system is describes, and well as a chronic implantable system. A method for treating a patient for anemia in conjunction with a renal denervation ablation catheter is also disclosed.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for use with an implantable cardiac stimulation device equipped with a multi-pole left ventricular (LV) lead and a right ventricular (RV) lead for identifying suitable pacing vectors. In one example, RV-LV delay times are measured while using different electrodes of the LV lead as cathodes for sensing. The LV electrode having the longest RV-LV delay time is identified and LV capture thresholds and diaphragmatic stimulation thresholds are measured for pacing vectors that employ that LV electrode as a cathode. Assuming at least one vector employing the selected LV electrode is found to have acceptable thresholds, the vector is selected for use in delivering pacing therapy with the selected LV electrode. If none of the pacing vectors employing the selected LV electrode has acceptable thresholds, another LV electrode is selected and the procedure is repeated. Examples with a multi-pole RV lead are also described.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling non-paresthesia stimulation of nervous tissue of a patient. The method delivers a non-paresthesia stimulation waveform, senses sensory action potential (SAP) signals from the nervous tissue of interest, and analyzes the SAP signals to obtain SAP activity data for at least one of an SAP C-fiber component or an SAP A-delta fiber component. The method determines whether the SAP activity data satisfies a criteria of interest and adjusts at least one of the therapy parameters to change the non-paresthesia stimulation waveform when the SAP activity data does not satisfy the criteria of interest.

Abstract: Systems and associated methods are provided for automatically identifying a problem with sensing heart activity. In use, a plurality of heartbeats is sensed utilizing an implantable medical device. Further, data associated with the heartbeats is collected and stored. To this end, a problem with the sensing of the heartbeats (e.g., oversensing, undersensing, etc.) may be automatically identified and corrected, utilizing the data.