Abstract: Methods and/or devices are disclosed herein for monitoring cardiac impedance signal and delivering therapy to a patient's heart based upon the monitored cardiac impedance.

Abstract: A medical device and associated method sense a cardiac signal and initiate an arrhythmia episode detection process in response to the cardiac signal by enabling an arrhythmia detection counter to be adjusted during the detection process. Data is accumulated relating to cardiac events during the detection process. An arrhythmia episode profile is established using the accumulated data.

Abstract: An implantable medical device (IMD) senses physiological episodes and stores data associated with the physiological episodes in the IMD. The data is then processed based on a pattern of recurrence of the physiological episodes.

Abstract: Heart failure decompensation is detected by sensing at least one physiological signal. Values of at least two different heart failure variables are derived using one or more physiological signals and a threshold for the first heart failure variable is adjusted in response to the value of the second heart failure variable. The value of the first heart failure variable is compared to first threshold for detecting a heart failure condition.

Abstract: An implantable medical device (IMD) senses physiological episodes and stores data associated with the physiological episodes in the IMD. The data is then processed based on a pattern of recurrence of the physiological episodes.

Abstract: The disclosure describes techniques for quantifying the autonomic nervous system (ANS) health of a patient with thoracic impedance measurements. Thoracic impedance may be measured utilizing cardiac electrodes and an implantable medical device housing or other electrodes located on or within the patient. Since greater variability in thoracic impedance may indicate better health of the ANS, monitoring impedance changes in a patient may be used to quantify autonomic tone of the ANS, and ultimately, overall patient health. In some examples, thoracic impedance may be measured in response to a change in patient posture for acute monitoring or at predetermined times over several days, weeks, or months for more chronic monitoring of the patient. An implantable medical device may independently analyze the impedance measurements and transmit an alert to the patient or clinician when impedance changes indicate a change in patient health.

Abstract: Subcutaneous Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (SubQ ICDs) are disclosed that are entirely implantable subcutaneously with minimal surgical intrusion into the body of the patient and provide distributed cardioversion-defibrillation sense and stimulation electrodes for delivery of cardioversion-defibrillation shock and pacing therapies across the heart when necessary. The SubQ ICD is implemented with other implantable and external medical devices and communicates to provide drugs and therapy in a coordinated and synergistic manner.

Abstract: A pressure sensor is deployed in the right atrium and is in contact with the tissue of the fossa ovalis. The fossa ovalis acts as a membrane and the pressure sensor determines the relative and/or absolute pressure within the left atrium while remaining within the right atrium. A variety of embodiment are provided to deploy and anchor the sensor into the proper position.

Abstract: An IMD can be implanted into a patient to address various conditions. The IMD case and leads can have various electrodes and other portions to measure various physiological conditions. For example, a selected current can be generated between two electrodes, either external or internal in the patient, and a voltage can be measured by one or more electrodes of the IMD. A voltage can be measured at two or more locations to determine a relative motion of different electrodes. If the electrodes are in different portions of the heart, a determination can be made of a relative motion or position of the heart or portions of the heart.

Abstract: A pressure sensor is deployed in the right atrium and is in contact with the tissue of the fossa ovalis. The fossa ovalis acts as a membrane and the pressure sensor determines the relative and/or absolute pressure within the left atrium while remaining within the right atrium. A variety of embodiment are provided to deploy and anchor the sensor into the proper position.

Abstract: An implantable medical device and associated method provide atrial pacing and measure an atrial ventricular (AV) delay. An autonomic function index is computed using the AV delay. The autonomic function index may be compiled in a medical report. In some embodiments, the autonomic function index is used to adjust atrial pacing control parameters.

Abstract: An implantable medical device operates according to a ventricular pacing protocol (VPP) that precludes ventricular pacing in any cardiac cycle where a sensed ventricular event has occurred in the preceding cycle. Improved ventricular sensing, detection and classification is provided.

Abstract: A pressure sensor is deployed in the right atrium and is in contact with the tissue of the fossa ovalis. The fossa ovalis acts as a membrane and the pressure sensor determines the relative and/or absolute pressure within the left atrium while remaining within the right atrium. A variety of embodiment are provided to deploy and anchor the sensor into the proper position.

Abstract: Methods and systems for treating patients with diastolic heart failure (DHF) are disclosed which include slowing a patient's heart rate below its intrinsic rate, and controlling the rate using cardiac pacing therapy to improve LV filling and cardiac output. In certain embodiments, a pacing treatment rate may be determined by adjusting an adaptive rate by an amount determined by evaluating one or more patient parameters.

Abstract: A pressure sensor is deployed in the right atrium and is in contact with the tissue of the fossa ovalis. The fossa ovalis acts as a membrane and the pressure sensor determines the relative and/or absolute pressure within the left atrium while remaining within the right atrium. A variety of embodiment are provided to deploy and anchor the sensor into the proper position.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide a system for occluding a left atrial appendage of a patient. Some embodiments of the system can include a ring occluder that can be positioned around the left atrial appendage and a ring applicator to position the ring occluder with respect to the left atrial appendage. One embodiment discloses a method of accessing endocardial surfaces of the heart through the atrial appendage. Additional embodiments of the invention provide a clip occluder that can be positioned around the left atrial appendage. A clip applicator can position the clip occluder with respect to the left atrial appendage.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for detecting cardiac arrhythmias during overdrive pacing. A maximum paced rate and a reduced paced rate for a heart are determined, the maximum paced rate being higher than the reduced paced rate. The heart is paced at the maximum paced rate. After the heart is paced at the maximum paced rate for a predetermined amount of time, the heart is paced at the reduced paced rate.

Abstract: The efficacy of cardiac resynchronization therapy applied to a patient's heart by an implantable device are improved by obtaining acute hemodynamic feedback during implantation of a pacing device. A first and a second transducer are temporarily placed proximate to a portion of the patient's heart during device implant, and a distance between the transducers is monitored as the therapy is applied. A parameter (e.g. lead location, biventricular pacing, pacing rate, or the like) of the cardiac therapy is adjusted in response to the distance between the transducers until a desired result is obtained, after which the first and second transducers can be removed from the patient.

Abstract: An implantable medical device operates according to a ventricular pacing protocol (VPP) that precludes ventricular pacing in any cardiac cycle where a sensed ventricular event has occurred in the preceding cycle. Improved ventricular sensing, detection and classification is provided.

Abstract: Heart failure decompensation is detected by sensing at least one physiological signal. Values of at least two different heart failure variables are derived using one or more physiological signals and a threshold for the first heart failure variable is adjusted in response to the value of the second heart failure variable. The value of the first heart failure variable is compared to first threshold for detecting a heart failure condition.