Abstract: A method for processing a cardiac signal represented as a function of time includes providing a number n of different threshold levels Ni, with i=1 to n and n being greater than or equal to three; detecting, from a given time T and per threshold level Ni, at least two successive intersections of the cardiac signal with the threshold level Ni, considering a crossing per increasing and/or decreasing value of the cardiac signal with the threshold level Ni; and determining at least one statistical parameter for the cardiac signal from the intersections of the cardiac signal with the at least three different threshold levels Ni. The method may be implemented by a subcutaneous active implantable medical device having a control circuit configured to process a cardiac signal.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an implantable medical device, in particular a cardiac defibrillator, comprising an implantable defibrillator configured to generate an electrical defibrillation signal, an implantable electrode connected with the implantable defibrillator by a lead and configured to deliver the electrical defibrillation signal to a patient, an implantable sensor configured to detect mechanical vibrations by the heart of the patient and to provide a detection signal based on the detected mechanical vibrations, and a controller configured to analyze the detection signal to determine at least one parameter characterizing the mechanical vibrations and to initiate a defibrillation operation of the implantable defibrillator based on the determined parameter characterizing the mechanical vibrations.

Abstract: A method for processing a cardiac signal represented as a function of time includes providing a number n of different threshold levels Ni, with i=1 to n and n being greater than or equal to three; detecting, from a given time T and per threshold level Ni, at least two successive intersections of the cardiac signal with the threshold level Ni, considering a crossing per increasing and/or decreasing value of the cardiac signal with the threshold level Ni; and determining at least one statistical parameter for the cardiac signal from the intersections of the cardiac signal with the at least three different threshold levels Ni. The method may be implemented by a subcutaneous active implantable medical device having a control circuit configured to process a cardiac signal.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an implantable medical device, in particular a cardiac defibrillator, comprising an implantable defibrillator configured to generate an electrical defibrillation signal, an implantable electrode connected with the implantable defibrillator by a lead and configured to deliver the electrical defibrillation signal to a patient, an implantable sensor configured to detect mechanical vibrations by the heart of the patient and to provide a detection signal based on the detected mechanical vibrations, and a controller configured to analyze the detection signal to determine at least one parameter characterizing the mechanical vibrations and to initiate a defibrillation operation of the implantable defibrillator based on the determined parameter characterizing the mechanical vibrations.

Abstract: Devices for use in providing stimulation to cardiac tissue are provided. One device is configured for implantation in or near the heart and includes a flexible, elongate body. The body is configured to be positioned across two different sections of the vasculature such that (a) the first end can be positioned in a first section of the vasculature through which the device can stimulate a first chamber of the heart and (b) the second end can be positioned in a second section of the vasculature through which the device can stimulate a second chamber of the heart. The device further includes a receiver circuit configured to receive signals wirelessly from a transmitter device and to convert the signals into electrical power. The device also includes at least a first set of one or more electrodes configured to stimulate the heart using the electrical power.

Abstract: Devices for use in providing stimulation to cardiac tissue are provided. One device is configured for implantation in or near the heart and includes a flexible, elongate body. The body is configured to be positioned across two different sections of the vasculature such that (a) the first end can be positioned in a first section of the vasculature through which the device can stimulate a first chamber of the heart and (b) the second end can be positioned in a second section of the vasculature through which the device can stimulate a second chamber of the heart. The device further includes a receiver circuit configured to receive signals wirelessly from a transmitter device and to convert the signals into electrical power. The device also includes at least a first set of one or more electrodes configured to stimulate the heart using the electrical power.

Abstract: An active implantable medical device for diagnosis and/or therapy that is able to detect the occurrence of apnea and hypopnea. The detection of an occurrence of respiratory apneae or hypopneae is performed by collecting the patient's endocardial acceleration (EA), and determining at least one parameter, i.e., a peak acceleration, (PEA I, PEA II) that is a function of this collected endocardial acceleration. An apnea or hypopnea alert signal is then conditionally delivered as a function of the value taken by this (these) parameter(s).

Abstract: An apparatus for non-invasive diagnosis of states of vasovagal syncope in a patient placed on a tilt table and subjected to a tilt-test, the apparatus comprising: circuits for sensing the patient's endocardiac acceleration; circuits for sensing the patient's heart rate; and analyzer circuits receiving as inputs said endocardiac acceleration and said heart rate, and outputting information about the sympthetico-vagal activity of the patient. The circuits for sensing endocardiac acceleration comprise an external accelerator sensor suitable for being held in contact with the patient's rib cage. The analyzer circuits comprise classifier circuits suitable, in the event of a syncope occurring, for determining one type of syncope amongst a plurality of syncope types as a function of the endocardiac acceleration and heart rate values sensed during a plurality of heart cycles preceding the occurrence of the syncope.

Abstract: A device for the non-invasive detection of apneae or hypopneae in a patient. This apparatus collects the patient's endocardial acceleration using an external acceleration sensor (12) able to be maintained in contact with the patient's thoracic wall (10). An analysis is made to determine at least one parameter that is function of collected endocardial acceleration and to conditionally deliver an apnea or hypopnea alert signal as a function of the value taken by this parameter. This parameter can notably be a function of one and/or the other of the two endocardial acceleration peaks over one given heart cycle, the first peak (PEA I) corresponding to the ventricular isovolumetric contraction phase and the second peak (PEA II) to the ventricular isovolumetric relaxation phase.

Abstract: An active implantable medical device having a function for monitoring the sympathico-vagal activity by an analysis of endocardiac acceleration. The device collects at least one physiological parameter of the patient, analyzes that collected parameter and delivers at an output data representative of the sympathico-vagal activity of the patient. The physiological parameter is an endocardiac acceleration (EA), and the representative data include at least one value function of the endocardiac acceleration, in particular a function of a first peak (PEA I) at the time of the phase of isovolumic ventricular contraction and/or of a second peak (PEA II) at the time of the phase of isovolumic ventricular relieving.

Abstract: A device for the non-invasive detection of apneae or hypopneae in a patient. This apparatus collects the patient's endocardial acceleration using an external acceleration sensor (12) able to be maintained in contact with the patient's thoracic wall (10). An analysis is made to determine at least one parameter that is function of collected endocardial acceleration and to conditionally deliver an apnea or hypopnea alert signal as a function of the value taken by this parameter. This parameter can notably be a function of one and/or the other of the two endocardial acceleration peaks over one given heart cycle, the first peak (PEA I) corresponding to the ventricular isovolumetric contraction phase and the second peak (PEA II) to the ventricular isovolumetric relaxation phase.

Abstract: An active implantable medical device for diagnosis and/or therapy that is able to detect the occurrence of apnea and hypopnea. The detection of an occurrence of respiratory apneae or hypopneae is performed by collecting the patient's endocardial acceleration (EA), and determining at least one parameter, i.e., a peak acceleration, (PEA I, PEA II) that is a function of this collected endocardial acceleration. An apnea or hypopnea alert signal is then conditionally delivered as a function of the value taken by this (these) parameter(s).

Abstract: An apparatus for non-invasive diagnosis of states of vasovagal syncope in a patient placed on a tilt table and subjected to a tilt-test, the apparatus comprising: circuits for sensing the patient's endocardiac acceleration; circuits for sensing the patient's heart rate; and analyzer circuits receiving as inputs said endocardiac acceleration and said heart rate, and outputting information about the sympthetico-vagal activity of the patient. The circuits for sensing endocardiac acceleration comprise an external accelerator sensor suitable for being held in contact with the patient's rib cage. The analyzer circuits comprise classifier circuits suitable, in the event of a syncope occurring, for determining one type of syncope amongst a plurality of syncope types as a function of the endocardiac acceleration and heart rate values sensed during a plurality of heart cycles preceding the occurrence of the syncope.

Abstract: An active implantable medical device having a function for monitoring the sympathico-vagal activity by an analysis of endocardiac acceleration. The device collects at least one physiological parameter of the patient, analyzes that collected parameter and delivers at an output data representative of the sympathico-vagal activity of the patient. The physiological parameter is an endocardiac acceleration (EA), and the representative data include at least one value function of the endocardiac acceleration, in particular a function of a first peak (PEA I) at the time of the phase of isovolumic ventricular contraction and/or of a second peak (PEA II) at the time of the phase of isovolumic ventricular relieving.

Abstract: A device for determining the effectiveness of the electrical stimulation of heart muscle from a signal having a post-potential component and, with effective stimulation, a superimposed evoked response component. The device includes a differential stage with a first input for application of the signal and a second input for application of a feedback signal. The differential stage generates a corresponding output signal whose level is determined by the levels of the signals present at the first and said second inputs. A comparator stage has feedback units able to act on the second input in a follower relationship with respect to the signal present at the first input avoiding saturation of the differential stage. The feedback units generate at least one compensation signal indicating the variation in the signal present at the first input over time. The compensation signal is indicative of the evoked response superimposed on the post-potential component.

Abstract: A device for determining the effectiveness of the electrical stimulation of heart muscle from a signal having a post-potential component and, with effective stimulation, a superimposed evoked response component. The device includes a differential stage with a first input for application of the signal and a second input for application of a feedback signal. The differential stage generates a corresponding output signal whose level is determined by the levels of the signals present at the first and said second inputs. A comparator stage has feedback units able to act on the second input in a follower relationship with respect to the signal present at the first input avoiding saturation of the differential stage. The feedback units generate at least one compensation signal indicating the variation in the signal present at the first input over time. The compensation signal is indicative of the evoked response superimposed on the post-potential component.