Abstract: According to the invention there is provided inter alia an implantable medical device with coatings comprising an immobilized heparin moiety and elutable paclitaxel and to methods for making such devices.

Abstract: An implanted pacemaker senses intrinsic atrial events and generates corresponding pacing pulses. The atrial events are also monitored for a precursor of an atrial fibrillation episode. If such a precursor is detected, the pacemaker generates therapy designed to prevent the atrial fibrillation episode. For example, the atrium and/or the ventricle may be overdriven at a pacing rate above the intrinsic rate.

Abstract: A rate responsive implantable pacemaker generates a metabolic demand parameter such as a thoracic impedance which is converted into a corresponding metabolic indicated parameter. During the conversion, intermediate parameters, such as either tidal volume and respiration rate, or a derivative of the metabolic demand parameter are used by a cross-check circuit to insure that artefacts due for example to stroke volume noise are eliminated. The peak limiter is used to limit the metabolic indicated rate to an acceptable range. Both protection circuits use fuzzy logic components.

Abstract: A graphic user interface for a cardiac implant, such as an implant programmer, includes image generators for generating multiple images on a screen, each image corresponding to as representation of a parameter related to the operation of the implant or a cardiac function, and an indicia generator for superimposing on the images an indicia indicative of the interrelation between the parameters. The indicia allows a user to obtain a clear understanding and appreciation of the cause and effect rules between various cardiac parameters and/or functions, the parameters or functions could be actual, i.e., obtained from the implant and/or the patient's heart, or they can be simulated to provide the user an indication on how the pacemaker will operate under these simulated conditions parameters.

Abstract: A rate-responsive pacemaker including a pulse generator for providing pacing current pulses at a controlled rate and two unipolar leads are provided. The pulse generator also applies a measuring current between one of the electrodes and a reference point in the pacemaker. The impedance between the other electrode and the reference point is measured across a lung of the patient. The impedance of the patient varies as a function of patient's pleural pressure, and therefore, the impedance thus represents the patient's minute volume. The rate of pacing is automatically adjusted in response to changes in the patient's minute volume.

Abstract: A pacemaker is provided in which ventricular rate instability is detected and automatically corrected by gradually increasing the ventricular pacing rate. Once the ventricle is stabilized, its pacing rate is gradually decreased as much as possible without losing ventricular stability. Ventricular instability can be a result of an atrial tachyrhythmia such as atrial fibrillation. Therefore, if the pacemaker is a dual chamber pacemaker, its operation is switched to a single chamber pacing mode thereby decoupling the ventricular pacing signals from the atrial pacing signals and atrial triggered ventricular pacing is inhibited until the atrial fibrillation terminates.