Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure described and depicted herein utilize substantially planar electrodes having one or more time-release coatings or material on at least a portion of the exposed surfaces thereof, or all surfaces of the planar portions and the elongated conductor portion thereof. The coatings or materials can include one or more synthetic and/or naturally-occurring biologically-, genetically- and/or pharmacologically-active materials that tend to reduce risk of infection, encourage tissue ingrowth, and/or induce other physiologic benefit and the like. In the event that an increase in surface area of the electrodes is desired and/or a means of retaining more of the time-release coating(s), an additional layer of material can be applied over a part of the electrode surface (e.g., titanium nitride, platinum black, or the like).

Abstract: The invention is directed to an externally applied coordinator for communication and/or control of 2 or more implantable medical devices that may utilize different telemetry communication techniques. The coordinator receives telemetry signals from 2 or more implantable medical devices and provides functional direction to each of the devices to provide coordinated therapy and/or diagnostic function. The coordinator automatically configures itself for communication with a given medical device based either on the telemetry signal it receives or programmed by the physician. Specifically the coordinator is implemented as a software based, power efficient receiver/transmitter based upon an inexpensive, simple motor-controller DSP.

Abstract: An integrated activation system for an implantable medical device (IMD) sharing a power source, the activation system comprising a switching circuit having first and second inputs and having an output coupled to the acute use device, a gating element coupled to the first input and configured to gate power from the power source to the switching circuit, and a sensing element coupled to the second input of the switching circuit. The sensing element is configured to sense an activation condition, enable an operation interval of the switching circuit, and transmit a signal to the switching circuit during the activation condition. The switching circuit is configured to transmit power to the acute use device upon receipt of a pre-determined number of signals from the sensing element.