Abstract: A medical implant system, comprising: an implant that is implantable into a patient, and a catheter configured for explanting the implant. The catheter and/or the implant is/are configured to measure a distance (D) between a tip of the catheter and the implant. The system is configured to generate an output signal indicative of said distance (D). In another embodiment, the system comprises a sensor element which is configured to measure at least one physical quantity indicative of a local anatomical environment of the implant. Also, methods for recapturing and/or explanting an implanted implant are provided.

Abstract: An intracardiac pacemaker device, comprising a housing that is configured to be implanted entirely within a ventricle (V) of a heart (H), an electronic module for generating pacing pulses, a battery for supplying energy to the electronic module, an elongated lead extension protruding from the housing, at least a first electrode arranged on the elongated lead extension, and a pacing electrode and a return electrode for applying said pacing pulses to cardiac tissue, wherein the pacing electrode is arranged on the housing. The electronic module is electrically coupled to the pacing electrode via the housing, and wherein the electronic module is configured to carry out measurements of electrical activity via the at least one first electrode of the elongated lead extension.

Abstract: A delivery tool for an implantable medical device to be introduced into a human or animal body, in particular, an implantable leadless pacemaker, the delivery tool having an outer sheath and an inner sheath, wherein the inner sheath is configured to be retractable into a lumen of the outer sheath, wherein a distal side of the inner sheath is configured to provide regions which are reversibly collapsible and non-collapsible in diameter, wherein a non-collapsible region is arranged at the distal end of the inner sheath. A system including a delivery tool and an implantable medical device is also provided.

Abstract: An external device and a medical device communicate wirelessly with each other. In order to provide for a reliable and low-power method and system providing secure communication between a medical device, in particular an implant, and an external device, the external device has a sound signal transmitter and the medical device has a sound signal receiver. The medical device is configured such that if the sound signal receiver of the medical device detects a predetermined sound signal sent by the sound signal transmitter of the external device, the medical device activates a predetermined operating sequence with a wireless data transmission between the medical device and the external device. There is also described a novel medical device, a novel method for operating a medical device using an external device, and a novel computer program product for operating a medical device using an external device.

Abstract: An implantable device system for applying electrical stimulation to a patient, including: a first implantable device configured to measure at least one parameter indicative of a physiological or an activity state of the patient, a second implantable device configured to apply and/or adapt electrical stimulation to the patient in response to said at least one parameter, and wherein the first implantable device is further configured to communicate information pertaining to said at least one parameter to the second implantable device.

Abstract: A system and method for installing/implanting a leadless implant can include a leadless implant with shortened tine-based anchors and an implantation tool with a modified tip. The tines can extend from a surface of the leadless implant and may include a preformed curve or other shape to enable the tine to hook into or grapple tissue. The implantation tool may be provided with a modified tip to assist with proper alignment, insertion, and anchoring of the shortened tines. A tip of the implantation tool can have a reduced inner diameter to cause the tine tips to be approximately normal to the surface of the tissue to which the implant is being anchored. Upon deployment of the leadless implant, the tines of the anchoring mechanism are appropriately aligned for proper insertion so that robust anchoring is achieved.

Abstract: A monitoring system and method for measuring and analyzing physiological signals to assess whether neuromodulation therapy would be successful for a patient. The system includes an external patch device that can be adhered to the chest of the patient in order to measure physiological signals, including heart signals via ECG and respiration via impedance measurement. An acceleration sensor is also provided in order to derive patient posture and activity levels that can be correlated to the measured data.

Abstract: An implantable pulse generator system includes a stimulation unit delivering vagal nerve stimulation pulses, an activity sensor determining an exertion level of the user and generating a signal representing metabolic demand, an autonomic tone sensor determining an autonomic status of the user and generating a signal representing autonomic status, and a control unit in communication with the foregoing components, and which is adapted to control the stimulation unit depending on both the signal representing metabolic demand and the signal representing autonomic status.

Abstract: An implantable leadless pacemaker (iLP) for a human or animal heart, wherein the iLP includes a housing, at least two electrode poles for picking up electrical potentials and/or delivering electrical stimulation, a stimulation control unit in connection with the electrode poles, a sensing unit that is in connection with at least one electrode pole, a signal processing unit in connection with the sensing unit, a signal evaluation unit in connection with the signal processing unit and/or the sensing unit, and an energy source. The sensing unit is configured to sense a first signal associated with an activity of the first heart chamber, and the stimulation control unit is configured to deliver electrical stimulation in the first heart chamber via the at least two electrode poles. wherein the sensing unit is configured to sense a second signal associated with an activity of a second heart chamber.

Abstract: An implantable leadless pacemaker (iLP) for a human or animal heart is provided that includes a housing, at least two electrode poles for picking up electrical potentials and/or delivering electrical stimulation, a stimulation control unit in connection with the electrode poles, a sensing unit that is in connection with at least one electrode pole, a signal processing unit in connection with the sensing unit, a signal evaluation unit in connection with the signal processing unit and/or the sensing unit, and an energy source. The sensing unit is configured to sense a first signal associated with an activity of the first heart chamber, and the stimulation control unit is configured to deliver electrical stimulation in the first heart chamber via the at least two electrode poles. The sensing unit is configured to sense a second signal associated with an activity of a second heart chamber.

Abstract: An intravascular electrode lead and an intravascular stimulation device including the same. The intravascular electrode lead includes an electrode shaft; a plurality of filaments being made of a conductive, non-biodegradable material, running in longitudinal direction within the electrode shaft and protruding distally beyond a distal end of the electrode shaft, each filament terminating in at least one electrically active area; and a support member being arranged distally from the distal end of the electrode shaft and being dilatable from a compressed state to an radially expanded state, wherein the support member is attached to the filaments and made of a biodegradable material.

Abstract: A premodulated interferential current, particularly for spinal cord stimulation, is generated using a pulse generator having multiple electrodes. The premodulated current, which is delivered through at least one of the electrodes, includes a train of biphasic pulses having a repetition frequency, wherein each biphasic pulse includes a stimulating phase and a balancing phase. The premodulated current includes an amplitude modulation envelope having an envelope beat frequency smaller than the repetition frequency of the biphasic pulses, wherein the modulation envelope is generated in the pulse generator.

Abstract: An implantable medical device including a data communication interface connected to a pulse generator. The pulse generator generates and delivers forward current pulses and reverse current pulses, wherein a polarity of the reverse current pulses is opposite to the polarity of the forward current pulses. Generates pulses representing binary digits, wherein a first kind of digits (1 or 0) is represented by a current pulse, and a second kind of digit respective of the other type of binary digits (0 or 1) is represented by a pause between current pulses. The data communication interface together with the pulse generator deliver current pulses with strictly alternating polarity such that every other current pulse is a reverse current pulse of opposite polarity compared to an immediately preceding forward current pulse. Thus, every string of current pulse is both, charge balancing and information encoding.

Abstract: An implantable pulse generator system includes a stimulation unit delivering vagal nerve stimulation pulses, an activity sensor determining an exertion level of the user and generating a signal representing metabolic demand, an autonomic tone sensor determining an autonomic status of the user and generating a signal representing autonomic status, and a control unit in communication with the foregoing components, and which is adapted to control the stimulation unit depending on both the signal representing metabolic demand and the signal representing autonomic status.

Abstract: A method for creating a subcutaneous implant pocket and implanting an implantable medical device therein, as well as an implantation kit that may be used in accordance with the method, are disclosed. The implantation kit includes an implantable medical device, a tunneling device, and an insertion tool. The method of use includes performing the implantation by creating a subcutaneous implant pocket with the tunneling device and using the insertion tool to deploy the implantable medical device within the subcutaneous implant pocket. Use of the kit in conjunction with the method enables quick and effective implantation of the implantable medical device while maintaining proper alignment during deployment. The kit and method of use also enable implantation of flexible implantable medical devices without bending, buckling, or becoming misaligned.

Abstract: An intravascular electrode lead and an intravascular stimulation device including the same. The intravascular electrode lead includes an electrode shaft; a plurality of filaments being made of a conductive, non-biodegradable material, running in longitudinal direction within the electrode shaft and protruding distally beyond a distal end of the electrode shaft, each filament terminating in at least one electrically active area; and a support member being arranged distally from the distal end of the electrode shaft and being dilatable from a compressed state to an radially expanded state, wherein the support member is attached to the filaments and made of a biodegradable material.

Abstract: A delivery tool for an implantable medical device to be introduced into a human or animal body, in particular, an implantable leadless pacemaker, the delivery tool having an outer sheath and an inner sheath, wherein the inner sheath is configured to be retractable into a lumen of the outer sheath, wherein a distal side of the inner sheath is configured to provide regions which are reversibly collapsible and non-collapsible in diameter, wherein a non-collapsible region is arranged at the distal end of the inner sheath. A system including a delivery tool and an implantable medical device is also provided.