Abstract: A leadless cardiac pacemaker (LCP) configured to sense and pace a patient's heart includes a sensor configured to sense a parameter related to cardiac contractility of the patient's heart and a power management unit that is operatively coupled to the sensor. The power management unit is configured to place the sensor in a higher power sense mode during times when sensing the parameter related to cardiac contractility is desired and to place the sensor in a lower power mode during times when sensing the parameter related to cardiac contractility is not desired.

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: 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: 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 and methods for communicating between medical devices. In one example, an implantable medical device comprises a communication module configured to receive commands from other medical devices, wherein the commands include a relative address and a command payload; a memory unit that stores a relative address and a unique identifier of the implantable medical device; a processing module coupled to the communication module and the memory unit, the processing module configured to: determine whether the relative address of a received command matches the relative address stored in the memory unit of the implantable medical device; if the relative address of the received command matches the relative address stored in the memory unit of the implantable medical device, execute the received command; and if the relative address of the received command does not match the relative address stored in the memory unit of the implantable medical device, ignore the received command.

Abstract: Systems and methods for communicating between medical devices. In on example, a medical device comprises a communication module for communicating with an implantable leadless cardiac pacemaker through body tissue and a controller operatively coupled to the communications module. The controller may be configured to: identify intrinsic heartbeats; provide a blanking period after each occurrence of an intrinsic heartbeat; and communicate with the implantable leadless cardiac pacemaker via the communication module only during times between the blanking periods.

Abstract: A wound dressing garment is provided. The wound dressing garment includes a wearable garment including a portion having a hole configured to receive a wound dressing therein in combination with the wound dressing. The wound dressing includes a border connecting the wound dressing to the wearable garment where the border extends around the perimeter of the hole to locate the wound dressing therein. The wound dressing may include one or more additional layers including a hydrogel layer. A method for treating wound or preventing bed sores using the wound dressing garment is also provided.

Abstract: Systems and methods for treating cardiac arrhythmias. One example medical device system for delivering electrical stimulation therapy to a heart of a patient may comprise a leadless cardiac pacemaker (LCP) implanted within a heart of a patient and configured to determine occurrences of cardiac arrhythmias, a medical device configured to determine occurrences of cardiac arrhythmias and to deliver defibrillation shock therapy to the patient, wherein the LCP and the medical device are spaced from one another and communicatively coupled, and wherein after the LCP determines an occurrence of a cardiac arrhythmia, the LCP is configured to modify the defibrillation shock therapy of the medical device.

Abstract: A method of making a feed-thru connector assembly includes inserting a conductor within an opening within a housing of a pulse generator and dispensing a sealant in a gap between the conductor and portions of the housing adjacent to the conductor that define the opening of the housing and curing the sealant to form a seal comprising a polyisobutylene cross-linked network.

Abstract: Systems and methods for coordinating treatment of abnormal heart activity using multiple implanted devices within a patient. In one example, a leadless cardiac pacemaker (LCP) may receive signals related to one or more physiological conditions of a patient, wherein the LCP may be configured to deliver ATP therapy to a heart. The LCP may also be configured, based at least in part on the received signals, to detect an arrhythmia. In response to detecting an arrhythmia, the LCP may determine whether to deliver ATP therapy to the heart. If the LCP determines to deliver ATP therapy, the LCP may deliver ATP therapy to the heart.

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: Systems and methods for coordinating treatment of abnormal heart activity using multiple implanted devices. In one example, a method of operating a medical system may comprise determining, by a first one of a plurality of implantable medical devices, a presence of an arrhythmia, wherein the first one of a plurality of implantable medical devices uses a first discrimination method to determine the presence of an arrhythmia, determining, by a second one of the plurality of implantable medical devices, a presence of an arrhythmia, wherein the second one of a plurality of implantable medical devices uses a second discrimination method to determine the presence of an arrhythmia, and communicating, by the first one of the plurality of implantable medical devices to a second one of the plurality of implantable medical devices, a message that is indicative of a detected arrhythmia by the first one of a plurality of implantable medical devices.

Abstract: An implantable medical device including a coating and associated method are disclosed. The implantable medical device can include a metallic housing. An adhesion layer formed on at least a portion of the metallic housing. A titanium nitride base layer formed on at least a portion of the adhesion layer. An intermediate layer formed on at least a portion of the titanium nitride base layer, and a titanium nitride top layer formed on at least a portion of the intermediate layer.

Abstract: Systems and methods for coordinating treatment of abnormal heart activity using multiple implanted devices within a patient. In one example, abnormal heart activity may be sensed by a medical device system. One of the devices of the system may determine to deliver anti-tachycardia pacing therapy to the heart of the patient, and may communicate an instruction to another of the devices of the medical device system to deliver anti-tachycardia pacing (ATP) therapy to the heart. The receiving medical device may then deliver ATP therapy to the heart of the patient.

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: Cardiac activity of the heart can be sensed using, for example, one or more leadless cardiac pacemakers (LCPs) that are implanted in a close proximity to the heart. Sensing cardiac activity by the one or more leadless cardiac pacemakers (LCPs) can help the system in determining an occurrence of cardiac arrhythmia. For treatment purposes, electrical stimulation therapy, for example anti-tachyarrhythmia pacing (ATP) therapy, can be delivered by at least one of the devices of the system. Such therapy can help treat the detected cardiac arrhythmia. In some instances, one of the leadless cardiac pacemakers can instruct one or more of the other devices to assist in providing pacing therapy. In some instances, one of the leadless cardiac pacemakers can instruct one or more of the other devices to temporarily stop providing therapy or to simply shut down while another device provides therapy.

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: 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: An apparatus includes an implantable housing, a header mounted to the implantable housing and including a connector block cavity, and a connector block located within the connector block cavity, the connector block including a housing portion, a coil spring, and a metallic conductor connected around the coil spring and extending directly to a feedthrough.