Abstract: Intermittent delivery of ventricular pacing pulses synchronized to occur during an atrial diastole time period can be used to provide atrial stretch therapy and augment the production and release of atrial natriuretic hormone.

Abstract: Near-field energy transmitters for charging a rechargeable power source of an implantable medical device (IMD). In some cases, the transmitter may include an output driver that may drive a transmit coil such that near-field energy is transmitted to the IMD at a determined frequency. In some cases, the IMD may include a receiving coil that may capture the near-field energy and then convert the near-field energy into electrical energy that may be used to recharge the rechargeable power source. Since the rechargeable power source does not have to maintain sufficient energy stores in a single charge for the entire expected life of the IMD, the power source itself and thus the IMD may be made smaller while still meeting device longevity requirements.

Abstract: Implantable medical device (IMD) such as leadless cardiac pacemakers may include a rechargeable power source. In some cases, the IMD may include a plurality of receiving coils that may capture a non-radiative near-field energy and then convert the near-field energy into electrical energy that may be used to recharge the rechargeable power source. Accordingly, since the rechargeable power source does not have to maintain sufficient energy stores in a single charge for the entire expected life of the IMD, the power source itself and thus the IMD, may be made smaller while still meeting device longevity expectations.

Abstract: Methods, systems and devices for providing cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) to a patient using a leadless cardiac pacemaker (LCP) implanted in or proximate the left ventricle of a patient. A setup phase is used to establish parameters in the therapy delivery.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing rate responsive pacing therapy to a heart of a patient. One example method for providing rate responsive pacing therapy includes sensing cardiac electrical data with a leadless cardiac pacemaker (LCP) that is implanted within or proximate the heart. From this location, the LCP may provide pacing therapy to the heart based at least in part on the sensed cardiac electrical data. An implantable medical device located remotely from the heart may sense patient activity, and may wirelessly communicate patient activity data from the implantable medical device to the LCP, sometimes using conducted communication. The LCP may be then determine an adjustment to the provided pacing therapy (e.g. adjust the pacing rate) based at least in part on the received patient activity data signal.

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: 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 system and method for correlating health related data for display. The system includes a medical device recording data and a display producing device which correlates the data and simultaneously displays different types of data or displays two sets of the same type of data along with the circumstances at which the two sets of data were recorded. Such displays aid a physician in prescribing and ascertaining the efficacy of cardiac therapies.

Abstract: Systems and methods for diagnosing one or more respiration distress manifestations by implantably recognizing their occurrence and evaluating information about the same to provide an indication of present or impending worsening heart failure are discussed. Using information produced by an implantable respiration sensor circuit and an implantable physiological sensor circuit, such as at least one of a physical activity sensor circuit or a posture sensor circuit, an implantable or external processor circuit may detect a respiration disturbance and an associated subsequent arousal from stable state occurrence and thereafter evaluate over time arousal from stable state occurrences to provide the indication of present or impending worsening heart failure. In one example, information about a fluid level within a subject is used in determining the indication of worsening heart failure.

Abstract: Systems and methods for communicating between medical devices. In one example, an implantable medical device comprising may comprise one or more electrodes and a controller coupled to the electrodes. The controller may be configured to receive a first communication pulse at a first communication pulse time and a second communication pulse at a second communication pulse time via the one or more electrodes. The controller may further be configured to identify one of three or more symbols based at least in part on the time difference between the first communication pulse time and the second communication pulse time.

Abstract: The presence of disordered breathing is detected using an implantable medical device. A cardiac condition is detected that is indicative of the patient's cardiac status. Based on the presence of disordered breathing and the cardiac condition, the patient is identified as suitable for a cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Abstract: A medical system for sensing and regulating cardiac activity of a patient may include a cardioverter that is configured to generate and deliver shocks to cardiac tissue and a leadless cardiac pacemaker (LCP) that is configured to sense cardiac activity and to communicate with the cardioverter. The cardioverter may be configured to detect a possible arrhythmia and, upon detecting the possible arrhythmia, may send a verification request to the LCP to help conform that the possible arrhythmia is occurring. The LCP, upon receiving the verification request from the cardioverter, may be configured to activate one or more of a plurality of sensors to attempt to help confirm that the possible arrhythmia is occurring.

Abstract: Systems and methods to determine presence of an analyte using an implantable medical device are disclosed. In an embodiment, a medical system includes an implantable medical device, a light source, an optical sensor and a processor. The implantable medical device includes an indicator tag, which is responsive to an analyte. The light source is configured to emit light onto the indicator tag, where the emitted light comprises at least one wavelength of light, and where the indicator tag emanates light, in response to the emitted light, that corresponds to whether the indicator tag is exposed the analyte. The optical sensor is configured to receive at least a portion of the emanated light, which includes at least one wavelength of light. And, the processor is configured to determine whether the indicator tag is exposed to the analyte based on the received light.

Abstract: A leadless cardiac pacemaker (LCP) is configured to sense cardiac activity and to pace a patient's heart and is disposable within a ventricle of the patient's heart. The LCP MAY include a housing, a first electrode and a second electrode that are secured relative to the housing and are spaced apart. A controller is disposed within the housing and is operably coupled to the first electrode and the second electrode such that the controller is capable of receiving, via the first electrode and the second electrode, electrical cardiac signals of the heart. The LCP may include a pressure sensor and/or an accelerometer. The controller may determine a pace time within a cardiac cycle based at least in part upon an indication of metabolic demand.

Abstract: A leadless cardiac pacemaker (LCP) configured to sense cardiac activity and to pace a patient's heart. The LCP may include a housing, a first electrode secured relative to the housing, a second electrode secured relative to the housing, and a pressure sensor secured relative to the housing and coupled to the environment outside of the housing. The LCP may further include circuitry in the housing in communication with the first electrode, the second electrode, and the pressure sensor. The circuitry may be configured to determine and store a plurality of impedance-pressure data pairs, from which a representation of a pressure-volume loop may be determined.

Abstract: A medical system includes two or more leadless implantable medical devices, each implanted in a different ventricle of the heart and each including a housing, a first electrode secured relative to the housing, a second electrode secured relative to the housing, and a pressure sensor secured relative to the housing. Each of the leadless implantable medical devices may further include circuitry in the housing operatively coupled to the corresponding first electrode, second electrode, and pressure sensor. The medical system may be configured to determine and store a plurality of pressure-pressure data pairs and/or impedance-impedance data pairs generated by the two or more leadless implantable medical devices, from which a representation of a pressure-pressure loop or volume-volume loop may be determined, to facilitate cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), patient health status monitoring, and/or the management of a non-CRT cardiac therapy.

Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, using a pressure sensor to detect body sound information of a patient, such as cardiac murmurs, respiratory sounds, etc.

Abstract: An Implantable Medical Device (IMD) configured to be implantable in a ventricle of a patient's heart may include a housing, a first electrode secured relative to the housing, a second electrode secured relative to the housing, the second electrode spaced from the first electrode, and circuitry in the housing operatively coupled to the first electrode and the second electrode. The circuitry may be configured to identify a measure of impedance between the first electrode and the second electrode at each of a plurality of times during a cardiac cycle. Each measure of impedance may represent a measure of volume of the ventricle in which the IMD is implanted. In some cases, the circuitry may generate a pacing pulse, the timing of which is based at least in part on the measure of volume of the ventricle at two or more of the plurality of times during the cardiac cycle.

Abstract: A leadless cardiac pacemaker (LCP) is configured to sense cardiac activity and to pace a patient's heart and is disposable within a ventricle of the patient's heart. The LCP may include a housing, a first electrode and a second electrode that are secured relative to the housing and are spaced apart. A controller is disposed within the housing and is operably coupled to the first electrode and the second electrode such that the controller is capable of receiving, via the first electrode and the second electrode, electrical cardiac signals of the heart. The LCP may include a pressure sensor and/or an accelerometer. The controller may determine an atrial contraction timing fiducial based at least in part upon two or more of a signal from the pressure sensor, a signal from the accelerometer representing, and an electrical cardiac signal.

Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, systems and methods to estimate an arterial diastolic pressure of a patient using ventricular pressure information of a heart of the patient and heart sound information of the heart of the patient, such as a timing of at least one of a first heart sound (S1) or a second heat sound (S2), in certain examples, adjusted by a respective correction factor.