Abstract: A circuit within an implantable cardiac stimulation device monitors impedance of an electrode configuration including first and second electrodes in electrical contact with a heart. The circuit is within the implantable cardiac stimulation device which applies stimulation pulses having a current and a voltage magnitude across the electrode configuration. The circuit that monitors impedance of an electrode configuration provides an impedance digital output proportional to the ratio of a stimulation pulse voltage and current.

Abstract: A linear voltage regulator, such as a low-dropout regulator, supplies power to one or more digital circuits within a computer system. The low-dropout regulator provides a substantially constant output voltage independent of loading conditions. The low-dropout regulator is biased at a relatively low operating current for steady-state operation to improve power efficiency of the low-dropout regulator. During a loading condition change, an adaptive biasing circuit senses the loading condition change and provides additional biasing current to momentarily increase the operating current of the low-dropout regulator to improve transient response.

Abstract: A linear voltage regulator, such as a low-dropout regulator, supplies power to one or more digital circuits within a computer system. The low-dropout regulator provides a substantially constant output voltage independent of loading conditions. The low-dropout regulator is biased at a relatively low operating current for steady-state operation to improve power efficiency of the low-dropout regulator. During a loading condition change, an adaptive biasing circuit senses the loading condition change and provides additional biasing current to momentarily increase the operating current of the low-dropout regulator to improve transient response.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for classifying cardiac events with an implantable cardiac device. Cardiac signals are stored in a buffer. When a significant cardiac event is confirmed, a corresponding segment of the stored cardiac signals is processed to generate a set of feature values. The set of feature values is compared to various sets of reference values. Each set of reference values preferably corresponds to a separate type of cardiac event, so that the cardiac device may classify the significant cardiac event by matching its set of feature values to a set of reference values.

Abstract: An improved apparatus and method are described for providing a measurement of the charge depleted from a battery used in an implantable device such as a cardiac pacemaker. The measurement is provided not by measuring the voltage level or impedance of the battery, but rather by continuously measuring the electrical current drawn from the battery and integrating that measured current over an integration time period. A precision current-sensing resistor provides a sense signal having a voltage that varies according to the magnitude of current being drawn, and this sense signal is integrated using a voltage-controlled oscillator circuit and counter, which are implemented using CMOS circuitry arranged in a switched-capacitor topology.