Abstract: A system and method for communication between an IMD and an external reader includes bringing a portion of a patient's body into contact with a device-body contact surface of an external reader. The reader transmits a first transdermal carrier wave from the contact surface into the patient's body, where the first carrier wave includes a request for communication with the IMD. The transdermal carrier waves are electrical conductive waves, optical waves, or acoustic waves. Upon detection of the first carrier wave, the IMD transmits a second transdermal carrier wave including a request for an access key from the reader and the reader replies by transmitting a third transdermal carrier wave including the access key back to the IMD. If the access key is valid, the IMD transmits information by radio frequency (RF) in an RF communication mode or a fourth transdermal carrier wave including data from the IMD.

Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, systems and methods to determine amplitude and morphology variations of a first heart sound over a first number of cardiac cycles, and to calculate an atrial fibrillation metric indicative of an atrial fibrillation episode of the heart using the determined amplitude and morphology variations. The systems and methods can determine a variability score using the determined amplitude and morphology variations, and can calculate the atrial fibrillation metric using the variability score.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting atrial tachyarrhythmias (AT) such as atrial fibrillation (AF) are disclosed. A medical system can include a cardiac signal sensor circuit to sense a cardiac electrical signal and a heart sound (HS) sensor to sense heart a HS signal A cardiac electrical signal metric, including a cycle length variability or a detection of atrial electrical activity, can be generated from the cardiac electrical signal A HS metric can be generated from the HS signal, including a status of detection of S4 heart sound or a S4 heart sound intensity indicator. The system can include an AT detector circuit that can detect an AT event, such as an AF event, using the cardiac electrical signal metric and the HS metric The system can additionally classify the detected AT event as an AF or an atrial flutter event.

Abstract: A mobile device, having a processor, includes an accelerometer configured to generate acceleration data, the acceleration data including a plurality of acceleration measurements. The mobile device also includes a memory having embodied thereon computer-executable instructions that are configured to, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to: obtain the acceleration data from the accelerometer; and generate, based on the acceleration data, heart sound data, the heart sound data including data associated with one or more heart sounds.

Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, systems and methods to produce a combined heart sound signal of a patient using a first signal including heart sound information over a first physiologic interval and a second signal including heart sound information over the first physiologic interval.

Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, systems and methods to produce a composite heart sound signal of a patient using a first signal including heart sound information over a first physiologic interval and a second signal including heart sound information over the first physiologic interval.

Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, systems and methods to determine amplitude and morphology variations of a first heart sound over a first number of cardiac cycles, and to calculate an atrial fibrillation metric indicative of an atrial fibrillation episode of the heart using the determined amplitude and morphology variations. The systems and methods can determine a variability score using the determined amplitude and morphology variations, and can calculate the atrial fibrillation metric using the variability score.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting atrial tachyarrhythmias (AT) such as atrial fibrillation (AF) are disclosed. A medical system can include a cardiac signal sensor circuit to sense a cardiac electrical signal and a heart sound (HS) sensor to sense heart a HS signal. A cardiac electrical signal metric, including a cycle length variability or a detection of atrial electrical activity, can be generated from the cardiac electrical signal. A HS metric can be generated from the HS signal, including a status of detection of S4 heart sound or a S4 heart sound intensity indicator. The system can include an AT detector circuit that can detect an AT event, such as an AF event, using the cardiac electrical signal metric and the HS metric. The system can additionally classify the detected AT event as an AF or an atrial flutter event.

Abstract: Medical systems and methods for making and using medical systems are disclosed. An example may include a catheter, a sensor, and a pump configured to remove contrast from a vascular system. The catheter may have a lumen through which the pump may suction contrast. The sensor may be positioned distal of and upstream of a distal end of the aspiration lumen and the pump may initiate suction through the lumen in response to a value sensed by the sensor reaching and/or going beyond a threshold value. The catheter may include an expandable member configured to expand in response to a value sensed by the sensor reaching and/or going beyond a threshold value. The sensor may be supported by a distal extension of the catheter or an elongate member configured to extend through and/or along the catheter to position the sensor distal of the distal end of the aspiration lumen.

Abstract: Methods and devices for configuring the use of a motion sensor in an implantable cardiac device. The electrical signals of the patient's heart are observed and may be correlated to the physical motion of the heart as detected by the motion sensor of the implantable cardiac device in order to facilitate temporal configuration of motion sensor data collection that avoids detecting cardiac motion in favor of overall motion of the patient.

Abstract: Implantable devices having motion sensors. In some examples the a configuration is generated for the implantable device to use the motion sensor in an energy preserving mode in which one or more axis of detection of the motion sensor is disabled or ignored. In some examples the motion sensor outputs along multiple axes are analyzed to determine which axes best correspond to certain patient parameters including patient motion/activity and/or cardiac contractility. In other examples the output of the motion sensor is observed across patient movements or postures to develop conversion parameters to determine a patient standard frame of reference relative to outputs of the motion sensor of an implanted device.

Abstract: An implantable medical device (IMD) that includes a housing, a first electrode secured relative to the housing, a second electrode secured relative to the housing, and a gyroscope secured relative to the housing. The IMD may include circuitry in the housing in communication with the first electrode, the second electrode, and the gyroscope. The circuitry may be configured to determine and store a plurality of torsion data measurements, from which a representation of a twist profile may be determined.

Abstract: A delivery and deployment device may include a handle assembly and a shaft extending distally from the handle assembly. A device containment housing may be coupled to a distal region of the shaft and may extend distally therefrom. The distal containment housing may be configured to accommodate at least a portion of the IMD therein. The IMD may, for example, be a leadless pacemaker, a lead, a neurostimulation device, a sensor or any other suitable IMD. A plurality of electrodes may be distributed about an exterior surface of the device containment housing such that at least some of the plurality of electrodes may be positioned to test a potential IMD deployment location before deploying the IMD.

Abstract: Methods, systems and devices for providing cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) to a patient using a leadless cardiac pacemaker (LCP) and an extracardiac device (ED). The system is configured to identify atrial events to use as timing markers for the LCP to deliver CRT, and further to determine whether the timing markers are incorrectly sensed and to make adjustment or call for re-initialization as needed.

Abstract: Methods and devices for configuring the use of a motion sensor in an implantable cardiac device. The electrical signals of the patient's heart are observed and may be correlated to the physical motion of the heart as detected by the motion sensor of the implantable cardiac device in order to facilitate temporal configuration of motion sensor data collection that avoids detecting cardiac motion in favor of overall motion of the patient.

Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, apparatus, systems, or methods to efficiently collect heart sound data, including detecting first heart sound information of a heart of a patient using a heart sound sensor in a first, low-power operational mode, and detecting second heart sound information of the heart using the heart sound sensor in a separate second, high-power operational mode. The operational mode of the heart sound sensor can be controlled using physiologic information from the patient, including heart sound information, information about a heart rate of the patient, or other physiologic information from the patient that indicates worsening heart failure.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to systems and methods for determining a subject's blood pressure using one or more implantable medical devices (IMDs). In an embodiment, a medical system comprises: at least one implantable medical device configured to sense signals associated with heart sounds of a subject and a processing unit communicatively coupled to the at least one implantable medical device. The processing unit is configured to: receive heart sound signals corresponding to the signals associated with the heart sounds; and calculate a surrogate of the subject's blood pressure using at least one heart sound signal of the received heart sound signals.

Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring patients with respiratory diseases are described. A system may include a sensor circuit to sense a respiration signal and at least one hemodynamic signal. The system may detect a specified respiratory phase from the respiration signal, and generate from the hemodynamic signal one or more signal metrics that are correlative to at least one of a systolic blood pressure, a blood volume, or a cardiac dimension. The system may detect a restrictive or obstructive respiratory condition when the hemodynamic signal metric indicates hemodynamic deterioration during a specified respiratory phase. The system may additionally classify the detected restrictive or obstructive respiratory condition into one of two or more categories, and deliver a therapy based on the detection or the classification.

Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring patients with respiratory diseases are described. A system may include a sensor circuit configured to sense one or more physiological signals indicative of respiratory sounds, and a spectral analyzer to generate first and second spectral contents at respective first and second frequency bands. The system may produce a respiratory anomaly indicator using the first and second spectral contents, or additionally with other physiological parameters. The system may detect an onset or progression of a target respiratory condition such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease using the respiratory anomaly indicator, or to trigger or adjust a therapy.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide for ambulatorily sensing pulmonary artery pressure from within a patient, and producing a pulmonary artery pressure measurement from the sensed pulmonary artery pressure. Power is ambulatorily provided within the patient to facilitate sensing of the pulmonary artery pressure and producing of the pulmonary artery pressure measurement. Acute pulmonary embolism is detected based on a change or rate of change in the pulmonary artery pressure measurement. An alert is preferably generated in response to detecting pulmonary embolism.