Abstract: A method of suturing a trocar path incision in a tissue of a patient with an obturator includes inserting the obturator through the tissue such that a shaft of the obturator extends through a tissue opening about the trocar path incision and a distal tip of the obturator is positioned within a cavity of the patient. The method also includes directing the suture via a suturing feature with the obturator inserted through the tissue in order to direct the suture relative to the tissue. Furthermore, the method includes closing the tissue opening about the trocar path incision with the suture.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for evaluation and adjustment of a left ventricular assist device (LVAD). The systems and methods may utilize at least a plurality of external electrodes to monitor cardiac electrical activity before and during LVAD therapy. The cardiac electrical activity as well as other information such cardiac sound information may be used to determine and adjust one or more LVAD output parameters such as pump speed.

Abstract: A controller for an implantable blood pump, includes an accelerometer configured to measure at least one from the group consisting of position and movement of the controller. Processing circuitry is configured to control operation of the implantable blood pump, the processing circuitry being in communication with the accelerometer, the processing circuitry being configured to adjust a speed of the implantable blood pump if the measured at least one from the group consisting of position and movement deviates from a respective predetermined threshold.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a transcutaneous energy transfer system are disclosed. The system includes an internal component adapted to be disposed within a body of a patient and an external component adapted to be disposed outside the body of the patient. The external component includes an external controller that is adapted to determine whether an internal coil of the internal component is electromagnetically disconnected from an external coil of the external component. If electromagnetically disconnected, then the external controller is adapted to determine a reconnection time threshold based upon at least one of a power transfer efficiency value between the internal coil and the external coil, a charge state of an internal power source, or a power consumption value of an implantable device, and output a charging alarm if a time interval when the internal coil is electromagnetically disconnected from the external coil exceeds the reconnection time threshold.

Abstract: Techniques for minimizing rate of depletion of a non-rechargeable power source, to extend the operational lifetime of an implantable medical device that includes the non-rechargeable power source, by enforcing operational-mode-specific communication protocols whereby inter-device communication between the implantable medical device and another implantable medical device is such that level of power draw from the non-rechargeable power source by the implantable medical device is less than level of power draw from the rechargeable power source by the another implantable medical device for the implantable medical devices to engage in communication with each other.

Abstract: Techniques for minimizing rate of depletion of a non-rechargeable power source, to extend the operational lifetime of an implantable medical device that includes the non-rechargeable power source, by enforcing operational-mode-specific communication protocols whereby inter-device communication between the implantable medical device and another implantable medical device is such that level of power draw from the non-rechargeable power source by the implantable medical device is less than level of power draw from the rechargeable power source by the another implantable medical device for the implantable medical devices to engage in communication with each other.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for evaluation and adjustment of a left ventricular assist device (LVAD). The systems and methods may utilize at least a plurality of external electrodes to monitor cardiac electrical activity before and during LVAD therapy. The cardiac electrical activity as well as other information such cardiac sound information may be used to determine and adjust one or more LVAD output parameters such as pump speed.

Abstract: An intracardiac ventricular pacemaker having a motion sensor is configured to produce a motion signal including an atrial systolic event and at least one ventricular diastolic event. The pacemaker is configured to set an atrial refractory period, detect a change in a ventricular diastolic event metric and adjust the atrial refractory period in response to detecting the change. The pacemaker sets set an atrioventricular pacing interval in response to detecting the atrial systolic event from the motion signal after expiration of the atrial refractory period.

Abstract: Techniques for minimizing rate of depletion of a non-rechargeable power source, to extend the operational lifetime of an implantable medical device that includes the non-rechargeable power source, by enforcing operational-mode-specific communication protocols whereby inter-device communication between the implantable medical device and another implantable medical device is such that level of power draw from the non-rechargeable power source by the implantable medical device is less than level of power draw from the rechargeable power source by the another implantable medical device for the implantable medical devices to engage in communication with each other.

Abstract: A medical device system including at least a first implantable medical device and a second implantable medical device is configured to establish by a control module of the first implantable medical device whether the second implantable medical device is present in a patient and self-configure an operating mode of the control module in response to establishing that the second implantable medical device is present.

Abstract: An intracardiac ventricular pacemaker having a motion sensor is configured to produce a motion signal including an atrial systolic event and at least one ventricular diastolic event. The pacemaker is configured to set an atrial refractory period, detect a change in a ventricular diastolic event metric and adjust the atrial refractory period in response to detecting the change. The pacemaker sets set an atrioventricular pacing interval in response to detecting the atrial systolic event from the motion signal after expiration of the atrial refractory period.

Abstract: An implantable medical device includes a housing having a proximal end and a distal end, a control module enclosed by the housing, and a pressure sensor electrically coupled to the control module. A fixation member is coupled to the housing distal end for anchoring the housing distal end at a fixation site within a cardiovascular system of a patient, and the pressure sensor is spaced apart proximally from the fixation member.

Abstract: A medical device is provided that includes an input/output, at least one sensor, a memory, a controller and at least one delivery member. The input/output is configured to provide a communication path to and from the medical device. The at least one sensor is used to monitor at least one patient function. The memory is used to store patient specific data from the at least one sensor and operating parameters of the medical device. The controller is used to control operations of the medical device. The controller is in communication with the at least one sensor, the memory and the input/output. The controller is configured to deny device operational change requests received via the input/output based at least in part on the patient specific data sensed by the at least one sensor. The at least one delivery member is under the control of the controller and is configured to provide a therapeutic function of the medical device.

Abstract: A medical device is provided that includes an input/output, at least one sensor, a memory, a controller and at least one delivery member. The input/output is configured to provide a communication path to and from the medical device. The at least one sensor is used to monitor at least one patient function. The memory is used to store patient specific data from the at least one sensor and operating parameters of the medical device. The controller is used to control operations of the medical device. The controller is in communication with the at least one sensor, the memory and the input/output. The controller is configured to deny device operational change requests received via the input/output based at least in part on the patient specific data sensed by the at least one sensor. The at least one delivery member is under the control of the controller and is configured to provide a therapeutic function of the medical device.

Abstract: A medical device system including at least a first implantable medical device and a second implantable medical device is configured to establish by a control module of the first implantable medical device whether the second implantable medical device is present in a patient and self-configure an operating mode of the control module in response to establishing that the second implantable medical device is present.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring at least one chamber of a heart (e.g., a left ventricular chamber) during delivery of extrasystolic stimulation to determine if the desired extra-systole (i.e., ventricular mechanical capture following refractory period expiration) occurs. The system includes an implantable or external cardiac stimulation device in association with a set of leads such as epicardial, endocardial, and/or coronary sinus leads equipped with motion sensor(s). The device receives and processes acceleration sensor signals to determine a signal characteristic indicative of chamber capture resulting from one or more pacing stimulus delivered closely following expiration of the refractory period.

Abstract: A system for accessing implantable medical device (IMD) data is provided including an interrogation appliance to retrieve data from an IMD and transfer the data to a processor. The processor converts the device data to a viewable form that is transferred by the processor to a data destination. The data destination may be an electronic mail address, a secure web site, a facsimile number or the interrogation appliance. The data is presented in a viewable form at the data destination either on a display or by printing. Any number of interrogation appliances may be communicatively coupled to the processor for converting IMD data and providing the IMD data back to a data destination in a viewable form for use by a clinician.

Abstract: Advanced thoracic fluid monitoring capabilities using impedance are disclosed. An implantable medical device used for detection of changes in impedance in a patient can have means for measuring impedances of the patient in a supine position and in an upright position. Impedance differences can be generated which correspond to a diurnal delta value showing impedance differences between the supine and upright positions.

Abstract: An implantable medical device used for thoracic fluid monitoring by detection of changes in impedance in a patient. The device measures impedances of the patient in a supine position and in an upright position. The device determines impedance differences between the supine and upright positions which correspond to a diurnal delta value, which may in turn be employed as a diagnostic parameter.

Abstract: A device for delivering pacing therapy includes an atrial and ventricular leads, sensing circuitry connected to the leads for detecting depolarizations, and pulse generation circuitry for delivering ventricular pacing pulses based on sensed atrial depolarizations. The device includes control circuitry for controlling the pulse generation circuitry in a first mode in which the pulse generation circuitry delivers atrial synchronized pulses to both the right and left ventricular leads in response to each atrial depolarization sensed. In response to a detected atrial arrhythmia, the control circuitry causes the pulse generation circuitry to deliver atrial synchronized ventricular pacing pulses in response only to selected atrial depolarizations.