Abstract: A method for detecting potential failures by a lead of an implantable medical device is provided. The method includes sensing a first signal over a first channel between a first combination of electrodes on the lead and sensing a second signal from a second channel between a second combination of electrodes on the lead. The method determines whether at least one of the first and second signals is representative of a potential failure in the lead and identifies a failure and the electrode associated with the failure based on which of the first and second sensed signals is representative of the potential failure. Optionally, when the first and second sensed signals are both representative of the potential failure, the method further includes determining whether the first and second sensed signals are correlated with one another. When the first and second sensed signals are correlated, the method declares an electrode common to both of the first and second combinations to be associated with the failure.

Abstract: A renal denervation feedback method is described that performs a baseline measurement of renal nerve plexus electrical activity at a renal vessel; denervates at least some tissue proximate the renal vessel after performing the baseline measurement; performs a post-denervation measurement of renal nerve plexus electrical activity at the renal vessel, after the denervating; and assesses denervation of the renal vessel based on a comparison of the baseline measurement and the post-denervation measurement of renal nerve plexus electrical activity at the renal vessel.

Abstract: A method for detecting potential failures by a lead of an implantable medical device is provided. The method includes sensing a first signal over a first channel between a first combination of electrodes on the lead and sensing a second signal from a second channel between a second combination of electrodes on the lead. The method determines whether at least one of the first and second signals is representative of a potential failure in the lead and identifies a failure and the electrode associated with the failure based on which of the first and second sensed signals is representative of the potential failure. Optionally, when the first and second sensed signals are both representative of the potential failure, the method further includes determining whether the first and second sensed signals are correlated with one another. When the first and second sensed signals are correlated, the method declares an electrode common to both of the first and second combinations to be associated with the failure.

Abstract: Implantable systems, and methods for use therewith, for monitoring arterial blood pressure on a chronic basis are provided herein. A first signal indicative of electrical activity of a patient's heart, and a second signal indicative of mechanical activity of the patient's heart, are obtained using implanted electrodes and an implanted sensor. By measuring the times between various features of the first signal relative to features of the second signal, values indicative of systolic pressure and diastolic pressure can be determined. In specific embodiments, such features are used to determine a peak pulse arrival time (PPAT), which is used to determine the value indicative of systolic pressure. Additionally, a peak-to-peak amplitude at the maximum peak of the second signal, and the value indicative of systolic pressure, can be used to determine the value indicative of diastolic pressure.

Abstract: When a medical procedure is performed on a patient in whom an implantable medical device is implanted, the medical procedure may have undesired effects on the medical device, such as triggering a response that initiates therapy by the device that is unnecessary and potentially dangerous to the patient. Systems and methods may facilitate performing of such medical procedures on such patients by automatically reprogramming the medical device, monitoring for one or more detectable characteristics associated with the medical procedure to be performed, and automatically restoring normal operation of the IMD after the medical procedure is completed.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention are related to an implantable monitoring device to monitor a patient's arterial blood pressure, where the device is configured to be implanted subcutaneously. The device includes subcutaneous (SubQ) electrodes and a plethysmography sensor. Additionally, the device includes an arterial blood pressure monitor configured to determine at least one value indicative of the patient's arterial blood pressure based on at least one detected predetermined feature of a SubQ ECG and at least one detected predetermined feature of a plethysmography signal. Alternative embodiments of the present invention are directed to a non-implantable monitoring device to monitor a patient's arterial blood pressure based on features of a surface ECG and a plethysmography signal obtained from a non-implanted sensor.

Abstract: Implantable systems, and methods for use therewith, for monitoring arterial blood pressure on a chronic basis are provided herein. A first signal indicative of electrical activity of a patient's heart, and a second signal indicative of mechanical activity of the patient's heart, are obtained using implanted electrodes and an implanted sensor. By measuring the times between various features of the first signal relative to features of the second signal, values indicative of systolic pressure and diastolic pressure can be determined. In specific embodiments, such features are used to determine a peak pulse arrival time (PPAT), which is used to determine the value indicative of systolic pressure. Additionally, a peak-to-peak amplitude at the maximum peak of the second signal, and the value indicative of systolic pressure, can be used to determine the value indicative of diastolic pressure.

Abstract: A communication device for an implantable medical device may include: an input/output interface configured to communicate with a wireless communication device; a communication interface configured to communicate with a remote system; and a processor configured to perform an analysis of data received from the wireless communication device via the input/output interface and associated with the implantable medical device. The communication device may include a user interface configured to receive data input by a user. A communication system may include a wireless communication device and the aforementioned communication device.

Abstract: A communication device for an implantable medical device may include: an input/output interface configured to communicate with a wireless communication device; a communication interface configured to communicate with a remote system; and a processor configured to perform an analysis of data received from the wireless communication device via the input/output interface and associated with the implantable medical device. The communication device may include a user interface configured to receive data input by a user. A communication system may include a wireless communication device and the aforementioned communication device.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for trending variation in coronary burden across multiple heart rate ranges. The method and system include obtaining cardiac signals having a segment of interest over a period of time where each cardiac signal has an associated heart rate that falls within at least one heart rate range. Segment variations of the segment of interest are determined and grouped based on the associated heart rates to produce distributions of segment variations that are associated with the heart rate ranges. Trending information is produced by automatically comparing the distributions of segment variations between different heart rate ranges.

Abstract: A method for detecting potential failures by a lead of an implantable medical device is provided. The method includes sensing a first signal over a first channel between a first combination of electrodes on the lead and sensing a second signal from a second channel between a second combination of electrodes on the lead. The method determines whether at least one of the first and second signals is representative of a potential failure in the lead and identifies a failure and the electrode associated with the failure based on which of the first and second sensed signals is representative of the potential failure. Optionally, when the first and second sensed signals are both representative of the potential failure, the method further includes determining whether the first and second sensed signals are correlated with one another. When the first and second sensed signals are correlated, the method declares an electrode common to both of the first and second combinations to be associated with the failure.

Abstract: In one implementation, a failsafe method for implantable satellite pacemaker pacing is provided, which includes pacing with a satellite pacemaker and monitoring for a local pacing pulse with an other satellite pacemaker. This implementation further includes, pacing with a surrogate satellite pacemaker if the local pacing pulse is not detected by the other satellite pacemaker. Certain implementations may include transmitting a wireless signal from the other satellite pacemaker to a master pacemaker if the local pacing pulse is not detected by the other satellite pacemaker and using the master pacemaker to select the surrogate satellite pacemaker. Certain implementations may include monitoring for the local pacing pulse with a plurality of satellite and causing the plurality of satellite pacemakers to select the surrogate satellite pacemaker.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention are related to an implantable monitoring device to monitor a patient's arterial blood pressure, where the device is configured to be implanted subcutaneously. The device includes subcutaneous (SubQ) electrodes and a plethysmography sensor. Additionally, the device includes an arterial blood pressure monitor configured to determine at least one value indicative of the patient's arterial blood pressure based on at least one detected predetermined feature of a SubQ ECG and at least one detected predetermined feature of a plethysmography signal. Alternative embodiments of the present invention are directed to a non-implantable monitoring device to monitor a patient's arterial blood pressure based on features of a surface ECG and a plethysmography signal obtained from a non-implanted sensor.

Abstract: In one implementation, a failsafe method for implantable satellite pacemaker pacing is provided, which includes pacing with a satellite pacemaker and monitoring for a local pacing pulse with an other satellite pacemaker. This implementation further includes, pacing with a surrogate satellite pacemaker if the local pacing pulse is not detected by the other satellite pacemaker. Certain implementations may include transmitting a wireless signal from the other satellite pacemaker to a master pacemaker if the local pacing pulse is not detected by the other satellite pacemaker and using the master pacemaker to select the surrogate satellite pacemaker. Certain implementations may include monitoring for the local pacing pulse with a plurality of satellite and causing the plurality of satellite pacemakers to select the surrogate satellite pacemaker.

Abstract: Implantable systems, and methods for use therewith, for monitoring arterial blood pressure on a chronic basis are provided herein. A first signal indicative of electrical activity of a patient's heart, and a second signal indicative of mechanical activity of the patient's heart, are obtained using implanted electrodes and an implanted sensor. By measuring the times between various features of the first signal relative to features of the second signal, values indicative of systolic pressure and diastolic pressure can be determined. In specific embodiments, such features are used to determine a peak pulse arrival time (PPAT), which is used to determine the value indicative of systolic pressure. Additionally, a peak-to-peak amplitude at the maximum peak of the second signal, and the value indicative of systolic pressure, can be used to determine the value indicative of diastolic pressure.

Abstract: An improved method and device for performing anti-tachycardia pacing (ATP) to convert a ventricular tachycardia (VT) to normal sinus rhythm. Pairs of pacing/sensing electrodes are placed in or on each of the left and right ventricles. Each pair of electrodes is shorted together to produce unipolar electrodes that are used for ATP.

Abstract: A system and method for enhancing classification of tachycardias. The tachycardias are associated with a sequence of sensed cardiac complexes, each having a calculated morphology score. The method includes storing intervals corresponding to the sequence of complexes, analyzing the stored intervals, and excluding one or more of the morphology scores based upon the analyzed intervals.

Abstract: Improved methods and devices perform anti-tachycardia pacing (ATP) to convert a ventricular tachycardia (VT) to normal sinus rhythm. In one embodiment of the invention bi-ventricular (BV) ATP is employed. In this embodiment the right ventricle and left ventricle of a patient's heart are independently paced based on signals sensed in each chamber.

Abstract: A method and device for performing anti-tachycardia pacing (ATP) to convert a ventricular tachycardia (VT) to normal sinus rhythm. Pairs of pacing/sensing electrodes are placed in or on each of the left and right ventricles. A determination is made whether a reentrant loop responsible for the VT is closer to one or the other of the pacing/sensing electrode pairs. ATP is performed with the pair of electrodes closest to the reentrant loop.

Abstract: An improved method and device for performing anti-tachycardia pacing (ATP) to convert a ventricular tachycardia (VT) to normal sinus rhythm. Pacing/sensing electrodes are implanted in or on the left and right ventricles of a patient's heart. After a VT is detected a determination is made based on the shape of the electrogram signal of the VT. One of a plurality of time offsets for pacing pulses of the left and right ventricles is selected based on the signal shape and ATP is performed by pacing both the left and right ventricles with the time offset between pulses in the respective ventricles.