Abstract: This invention relates generally to apparatus and methods for the calibration of implanted pressure transducers. It is an object of several embodiments of the present invention to provide apparatus and methods for the calibration of one or more implanted pressure transducers implanted in the body of medical patients. Various embodiments of the present invention are particularly advantageous because they offer a calibration system that is less invasive than the systems currently available.

Abstract: A method and system for automatically determining ischemia detection parameters are provided. The method includes obtaining a baseline trace indicative of a cardiac behavior, determining an ischemia detection window based on at least one physiologic state indicator within the baseline trace, and automatically identifying a fiducial point based on the baseline segment trace. The baseline trace includes a baseline segment within the ischemia detection window; where the ischemia detection window and the fiducial point may constitute ischemia detection parameters.

Abstract: An implantable medical lead configured for improved MRI safety and heating reduction performance is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the lead includes a tubular body having a proximal end and a distal end with a lead connector near the proximal end. In this embodiment the lead further includes a conductor extending longitudinally within the tubular body and having a proximal end that is electrically coupled to the connector and a distal end electrically coupled to a contact pin. The lead in this embodiment further includes a filter element electrically coupled to a distal end of the contact pin and a flange electrically coupled between a proximal end of the filter element and a proximal portion of an electrode. In this embodiment the flange and the proximal portion of the electrode form at least a first part of a hermetic chamber enclosing the filter element.

Abstract: Post-exercise arrhythmias are detected by an implantable medical device. In some aspects, post-exercise arrhythmia may be prognostic of a worsening cardiovascular condition. Thus, the detection of post-exercise arrhythmia may be used as an indicator for adjusting the therapy prescribed for a patient. In some aspects post-exercise arrhythmia are detected if a patient is exercising at a level that equals or exceeds a threshold exercise level. In some aspects, therapy for a patient is modified if the detected post-exercise arrhythmia exceeds a threshold arrhythmia level. In some aspects therapy for a patient is modified if ischemia is detected in conjunction with post-exercise arrhythmia.

Abstract: A cardiac stimulation device has a plurality of electrodes that deliver therapeutic electrical stimulation to the heart. At least one electrode is designated a cathode that cathodically induces depolarization of the surrounding heart tissue. At least one electrode is designated an anode. The device is configured, through one or more of electrode size, electrode configuration, electrode arrangement, cathode/anode number and pulse delivery circuitry, to induce depolarization of the heart tissue in the area of the at least one anode electrode, thereby resulting in greater depolarization of the heart tissue with reduced power consumption.

Abstract: A stimulation device that includes a housing, a neuro lead configured to be coupled to the housing and to be located proximate to a neurostimulation site of interest, a neuro pulse generator, in the housing, configured to generate multi-polar neuro modulation (NM) pulses for delivery by the lead to the neuromodulation site of interest and the neuro pulse generator generating the NM pulses utilizing a waveform, with the frequency components of the ICMD compatible waveform in a range of 0 to 225 Hz having substantially limited NM energy content to avoid interference with sensing operation of the ICMD.

Abstract: An implantable medical lead is disclosed herein. The implantable medical lead may include a body including an electrical insulation tube, a distal portion with an electrode, and a proximal portion with a lead connector end. The electrical insulation tube may be coaxial with a longitudinally extending center axis of the body. The lead may also include an electrical pathway extending between the electrode and lead connector end, the electrical pathway including an inductor comprising an electrical conductor helically wound directly on an outer circumferential surface of the insulation tube.

Abstract: An implantable cardiac patch is configured to be joined to a surface of a heart and includes a body portion having an inner surface configured to be joined to the surface of the heart. The body portion also has a plurality of pores extending into the body portion from the inner surface. A plurality of electrodes are attached to the body portion such that the electrodes are positioned proximate the surface of the heart, and a lead is electrically connected to the electrodes at a connecting portion of the lead. The lead has a proximal end configured for joining to an implantable device.

Abstract: A method for sensing cardiac activity in an atrium of a patient's heart includes delivering a pulse to the atrium using an electrode configuration that includes at least a cathode electrode; sensing cardiac activity in the atrium using a unipolar electrode configuration to provide a sensed signal wherein the unipolar electrode configuration does not include the cathode electrode; determining the duration during which the voltage of the sensed signal falls below a threshold voltage; and comparing the determined duration to a parameter to determine whether the pulse caused an atrial evoked response.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes detecting arrhythmia, detecting myocardial ischemia, determining whether the myocardial ischemia comprises local ischemia or global ischemia and, in response to the determining, calling for delivery of either a local ischemic anti-arrhythmia therapy or a global ischemic anti-arrhythmia therapy. Various other exemplary methods, devices, systems, etc., are also disclosed.

Abstract: An implantable cardiac defibrillation device provides pre-shock stimuli to reduce the defibrillation threshold (DFT). The device includes an arrhythmia detector that detects fibrillation of a fibrillating chamber of a heart and a pulse generator that provides a fibrillation therapy output responsive to the arrhythmia detector detecting fibrillation of the fibrillating chamber of the heart. The therapy output includes a defibrillating shock having an output magnitude exceeding a temporary defibrillation threshold of the fibrillating chamber and at least one pre-defibrillating shock output pulse that reduces an initial defibrillation threshold of the fibrillating chamber to the temporary defibrillation threshold. An electrode system having at least two defibrillation electrodes delivers both the at least one pre-defibrillating shock output pulse to the heart and the defibrillating shock to the fibrillating chamber of the heart.

Abstract: An implantable cardiac device is programmed to detect and classify premature atrial contractions (PACs) and administer responsive pacing therapy. The responsive pacing therapy is in the form of an atrial extrastimulus, which is intended to preempt initiation of a reentrant tachycardia. The atrial extrastimulus is timed to occur late enough after a PAC to ensure atrial capture, but early enough that the resulting atrial depolarization does not conduct through the AV node to the ventricles if the PAC has already done so. If both of these criteria cannot be met, the device may be configured to inhibit the atrial extrastimulus.

Abstract: A medical tubular body that may be used in an implantable medical lead, a catheter, a sheath and introducer is disclosed herein. The medical tubular body may include a tubular layer formed of an electrically insulating polymer and an electrically conductive polymer strip imbedded in and longitudinally extending through the insulating polymer.

Abstract: An implantable medical device includes a lead, a pulse generator, an autothreshold module and a control module. The lead includes electrodes positioned within a heart. At least one of the electrodes senses cardiac signals. The pulse generator delivers a stimulus pulse through at least one of the electrodes. The autothreshold module performs a threshold search when operating in an autothreshold mode and causes atrial stimulus pulses to be delivered in an atrium of the heart at an overdrive rate during the threshold search. The control module determines an AV conduction time and applies an overdrive AV adjustment to the AV conduction time to generate an AV delay. The autothreshold module uses the AV delay in connection with delivering ventricular stimulus pulses to a ventricle of the heart.

Abstract: An implantable lead comprises a lead connector and an electrode configured to perform at least one of a sensing operation and delivery of electrical energy. The implantable lead also includes a lead body having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion with the connector located at the proximal end and the electrode located at the distal end. The lead body of the implantable lead has a length that includes a lumen that extends longitudinally between the distal and proximal end portions. The implantable lead further includes a coil conductor that has spiral sections wound within the lumen and extend from the lead connector along the lumen. The coil conductor couples the lead connector to the electrode. The coil conductor has an insulation material provided on at least a segment of the coil conductor. The insulation material has a dielectric constant set such that the coil conductor forms a distributed band stop filter when exposed to a known RF magnetic field.

Abstract: An implantable medical device includes a lead, a pulse generator, an autocapture module, an autothreshold module, a fusion detection module, and a control module. The lead includes electrodes configured to be positioned within a heart. At least one of the electrodes is capable of sensing cardiac signals. The pulse generator delivers a stimulus pulse through at least one of the electrodes. The autocapture module senses an evoked response of the heart after delivery of the stimulus pulse when operating in an autocapture mode. The autothreshold module performs a threshold search when operating in an autothreshold mode. The fusion detection module identifies fusion-based behavior in the heart. The control module automatically switches between the autothreshold and autocapture modes based on a presence of the fusion-based behavior.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes detecting a change in state of a cardiac valve, detecting elongation of the left ventricle substantially along its major axis, determining a time difference between the change in state of the cardiac valve and the elongation of the left ventricle and, based at least in part on the time difference, deciding whether a diastolic abnormality exists. Other exemplary methods, devices, systems, etc., are also disclosed.

Abstract: An implantable system terminates atrial fibrillation by applying optimized anti-tachycardia pacing (ATP). In one implementation, the system senses and paces at multiple sites on the left atrium. At each site, the system senses reentrant circuits causing the atrial fibrillation. In one implementation, the system applies ATP tuned to the frequency of the reentrant circuit at the electrode that senses the most regular reentrant circuit. In another implementation, the system applies ATP at multiple electrodes, delivering each pulse at each site when the excitable gap is near the site. In other variations, the ATP is optimized for different patterns of sequential, simultaneous, or syncopated delivery to terminate the atrial fibrillation. The system can also monitor multiple heart chambers for cardiac events that favor terminating atrial fibrillation via ATP. The system then times delivery of the ATP according to these cardiac events.

Abstract: Implantable systems, and methods for use therein, for monitoring for mitral valve regurgitation (MR) are provided. An electrogram (EGM) signal and a corresponding pressure signal are obtained, where the EGM signal is representative of electrical functioning of the patient's heart during a plurality of cardiac cycles, and the corresponding pressure signal is representative of pressure within the left atrium the patient's heart during the cardiac cycles. Windows of the pressure signal are defined, based on events detected in the EGM signal, and measurements from the windows are used to monitor for MR.

Abstract: Implantable systems, and methods for use therewith, are provided for using an implantable sensor for detecting body position and/or body movement, and using what is learned therefrom to improve accuracy of an implantable sensor that is sensitive to at least one of body position and/or body movement. Also provided are implantable systems, and methods for use therewith, that detect body position and/or body movement in order to monitor a condition and/or detect specific episodes. Other embodiments are also provided.