Abstract: An implantable pulse generator includes a device housing containing pulse generator circuitry and a header connected to the device housing. The header includes a core assembly defining first and second lead bore cavities sized for receiving terminal pins of leads, first and second labels, and an outer layer. The first label is printed onto a surface of the core assembly proximate the first lead bore cavity and includes a first color. The second label is printed onto the surface of the core assembly proximate the second lead bore cavity and includes a second color different from the first color. The outer layer is overmolded over the core assembly so as to encapsulate the first and second labels and to allow access to the first and second lead bore cavities.

Abstract: Systems and methods for communicating between medical devices. In one example, a method for communicating between a plurality of medical devices in a medical device system comprises, with a first medical device, communicating a first message to a second medical device. The method further comprises, with the second medical device, receiving the first message, wherein the first message comprises a plurality of communication pulses. A first set of the plurality of communication pulses represent a synchronization portion of the first message. A second set of the plurality of communication pulses represent a relative device address portion of the first message. A third set of the plurality of communication pulses represent a command portion of the first message. A fourth set of the plurality of communication pulses represent a payload portion of the first message.

Abstract: An implantable medical device for implantation into a patient may include a housing, a pulse generation circuit disposed at least partially within the housing, a plurality of electrodes electrically coupled to the pulse generation circuit, the plurality of electrodes being exposed external to the housing, and a controller operatively coupled to the pulse generation circuit. The controller may be configured to command the pulse generation circuit to deliver a phasic conducted communication pulse via at least two of the plurality of electrodes. Additionally, the phasic conducted communication pulse may comprise a first phase having a first polarity followed by a second phase having an opposite second polarity, wherein the second phase may have a duration of less than 60 microseconds, and wherein the first phase having may have a duration of between five percent and eighty percent of the duration of the second phase.

Abstract: A coating for an implantable medical device includes a poly(monochloro-p-xylylene) coating formed on at least a portion of the implantable medical device, and a layer including at least one of poly(ethylene glycol) and a poly(ethylene glycol) derivative linked to the poly(monochloro-p-xylylene) coating by covalent bonds.

Abstract: A cardiac rhythm management system includes a first implantable device such as a defibrillator and a second implantable device such as a leadless cardiac pacemaker. A programmer is configured to receive and display heart data emanating from the implantable defibrillator and from the leadless cardiac pacemaker. The heart data emanating from the leadless cardiac pacemaker is displayed in temporal alignment with the heart data emanating from the implantable defibrillator.

Abstract: A system, including a sensor configured to ambulatorily sense a parameter and a status unit configured to determine a change in asthma status of a patient based on the parameter.

Abstract: In general, techniques are described for labeling an implantable medical device (IMD). In one example, an IMD can include a housing including electronic circuitry. The IMD can include a header coupled to the housing and includes a core. The core can define a bore and include a first metal label positioned adjacent to the at least one bore. The IMD includes a lead assembly including at least one lead having a distal end and a proximal end, the at least one lead including a second metal label, the distal end including at least one electrode and the proximal end received within the bore.

Abstract: Medical device systems and methods with multiple communication modes. An example medical device system may include a first medical device and a second medical device communicatively coupled to the first medical device. The first medical device may be configured to communicate information to the second medical device in a first communication mode. The first medical device may further be configured to communicate information to the second medical device in a second communication mode after determining that one or more of the communication pulses captured the heart of the patient.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods are disclosed for limiting the duration of elevated pacing rates in an implantable medical device. An illustrative device may include a housing, a plurality of electrodes connected to the housing, and a controller within the housing and connected to the electrodes. The controller may deliver pacing pulses to the electrodes at a base pacing rate, detect a measure of elevated metabolic demand which may vary over time, deliver pacing pulses at an elevated pacing rate based on the measure of elevated metabolic demand. The controller may change a heart stress tracking value (HSTV) when the pacing rate is elevated and may be changed faster during times of relatively higher elevated pacing rates than times of relatively lower elevated pacing rates. The elevated pacing rate may be reduced back toward the base pacing rate after the HSTV crossed a predetermined heart stress threshold.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for detecting or confirming fibrillation are discussed. In one example, a method for detecting a cardiac arrhythmia of a patients' heart comprises receiving, by a leadless cardiac pacemaker fixed in the patients' heart, an indication from a remote device that a cardiac arrhythmia is detected, monitoring by the leadless cardiac pacemaker a signal generated by a sensor that is located within the patients' heart, and based at least in part on the monitored signal, confirming whether a cardiac arrhythmia is occurring or not. In some embodiments, the method may further comprise, if a cardiac arrhythmia is confirmed, delivering a therapy to treat the cardiac arrhythmia.

Abstract: Systems and methods for coordinating detection and/or treatment of abnormal heart activity using multiple implanted devices within a patient. In one example, cardiac activity may be sensed by two or more medical device, including a leadless cardiac pacemaker. Cardiac activity sensed by one of the implanted devices may be communicated to another one of the implanted devices. Abnormal heart activity may then be determined based on the cardiac activity of both of the medical device.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for pacing a heart of a patient are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method for pacing a patient's heart may include determining a posture of the patient and determining if the determined posture corresponds to a predetermined sleep posture. If the determined posture correspond to the predetermined sleep posture, the method may further comprise determining a respiration phase of the patient and pacing the patient's heart at a pacing rate that is modulated based on the determined respiration phase of the patient. If the determined posture does not correspond to the predetermined sleep posture, the method may pace the patient's heart at a pacing rate that is not dependent on the respiration phase of the patient.

Abstract: Implantable devices having motion sensors. In some examples the a configuration is generated for the implantable device to use the motion sensor in an energy preserving mode in which one or more axis of detection of the motion sensor is disabled or ignored. In some examples the motion sensor outputs along multiple axes are analyzed to determine which axes best correspond to certain patient parameters including patient motion/activity and/or cardiac contractility. In other examples the output of the motion sensor is observed across patient movements or postures to develop conversion parameters to determine a patient standard frame of reference relative to outputs of the motion sensor of an implanted device.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for determining occurrences of myocardial infarctions are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of sensing for an occurrence of a myocardial infarction may include sensing a baseline accelerometer signal during a baseline, determining a baseline template based on one or more characteristics of the baseline accelerometer signal, and storing the baseline template in a memory. The method may further include sensing an accelerometer signal during a test period subsequent to the baseline, determining a test template based on one or more characteristics of the accelerometer signal during the test period, and comparing the baseline template with the test template, and based on the comparison, determining if a myocardial infarction occurred in the patient's heart. If it is determined that a myocardial infarction occurred in the patient's heart, the method may further include displaying an indication on a display that a myocardial infarction occurred.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for determining occurrences of a tamponade condition are disclosed. One exemplary method includes monitoring an accelerometer signal of a leadless cardiac pacemaker attached to a heart wall, determining if a tamponade condition of the patient's heart is indicated based at least in part on the monitored accelerometer signal, and in response to determining that the tamponade condition is indicated, providing a notification of the tamponade condition for use by a physician to take corrective action.

Abstract: Methods and devices for configuring the use of a motion sensor in an implantable cardiac device. The electrical signals of the patient's heart are observed and may be correlated to the physical motion of the heart as detected by the motion sensor of the implantable cardiac device in order to facilitate temporal configuration of motion sensor data collection that avoids detecting cardiac motion in favor of overall motion of the patient.

Abstract: A leadless cardiac pacemaker includes a housing and two or more electrodes secured relative to the housing. A controller is configured to receive electrical signals from the two or more electrodes indicative of a heartbeat of the patient's heart and determine a first measure of cardiac load based at least in part on a delay between the Q or R feature and the T feature for the heartbeat. An accelerometer is configured to sense an activity level of the patient and the controller is configured to determine a second measure of cardiac load based at least in part on the activity level of the patient. A pacing rate is based at least in part upon the first measure of cardiac load, with the second measure of cardiac load used as a governor to the determined pacing rate.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for adjusting functionality of an implantable medical device based on posture are disclosed. In some instances, a method for operating a leadless cardiac pacemaker implanted into a patient, where the patient has two or more predefined behavioral states, may include detecting a change in the behavioral state of the patient, and in response, changing a sampling rate of a sensor signal generated by a sensor of the leadless cardiac pacemaker. In some embodiments, the method may further include using the sampled sensor signal to determine an updated pacing rate of the leadless cardiac pacemaker and providing pacing to the patient at the updated pacing rate.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for detecting dislodgment of an implantable device are disclosed. In one example, a method for determining a dislodgement status may comprise collecting, by the implantable device operating in a first operating mode, a first number of accelerometer signal samples during a cardiac cycle of the heart and using the first number of accelerometer signal samples to determine a first patient parameter and collecting, by the implantable device operating in a second operating mode, a second number of accelerometer signal samples during a cardiac cycle of the heart and using the second number of accelerometer signal samples to determine a dislodgment status of the implantable device, wherein the first number is smaller than the second number. In some further embodiments, the method may further include providing a notification of the dislodgment status to a remote device that is remote from the implantable medical device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for conducted communication are described. In one embodiment, a method for communicating with implantable medical devices may comprise sensing, by a first medical device, a noise signal delivered into a patient's body by a second medical device and delivering, by the first medical device, a cancelling signal into the patient's body. In at least some additional embodiments the method may further comprise, while delivering the cancelling signal into the patient's body, delivering a conducted communication signal into the patient's body for reception by a second medical device.