Abstract: Implantable medical devices (IMD), such as but not limited to leadless cardiac pacemakers (LCP), subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillators (SICD), transvenous implantable cardioverter defibrillators, neuro-stimulators (NS), implantable monitors (IM), may be configured to communicate with each other. In some cases, a first IMD may transmit instructions to a second IMD. In order to improve the chances of a successfully received transmission, the first IMD may transmit the instructions several times during a particular time frame, such as during a single heartbeat. If the second IMD receives the message more than once, the second IMD recognizes that the messages were redundant and acts accordingly.

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: Implantable medical devices (IMD), such as but not limited to leadless cardiac pacemakers (LCP), neuro-stimulators (NS), and/or implantable monitors (IM), may be configured to communicate using more than one mode of communication and/or more than one communication vector. In some cases, the implantable medical device may be configured to switch between communication modes, vectors, and/or communication paths, which may help improve communication reliability and/or communication speed between devices.

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 pacing a heart of a patient are disclosed. An illustrative method may include determining a motion level of the patient using a motion sensor of an implantable medical device secured relative to a patient's heart, and setting a pacing rate based at least in part on the patient's motion level. The patient's motion level may be determined by, for example, comparing the motion level sensed by the motion sensor during a current heart beat to a motion level associated with one or more previous heart beats. Noise may occur in the motion level measurements during those heart beats that transition between an intrinsically initiated heart beat and pace initiated heart beat. Various techniques may be applied to the motion level measurements to help reduce the effect of such noise.

Abstract: An implantable medical device (IMD) may include a sensor for providing a sensor output signal and a sense channel configured to receive the sensor output signal from the sensor. The sense channel may be configured to process the sensor output signal and output a sense channel output signal. The sense channel may have an adjustable performance level, wherein for a higher performance level the sense channel consumes more power than for a lower performance level. A controller may be configured to adjust the performance level of the sense channel to achieve more performance and more power consumption when a higher degree of sense channel performance is desired and to achieve less performance and less power consumption when a higher degree of performance is not desired.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for pacing a heart of a patient are disclosed. An illustrative method may include determining a motion level of the patient using a motion sensor of an implantable medical device secured relative to a patient's heart, and setting a pacing rate based at least in part on the patient's motion level. The patient's motion level may be determined by, for example, comparing the motion level sensed by the motion sensor during a current heart beat to a motion level associated with one or more previous heart beats. Noise may occur in the motion level measurements during those heart beats that transition between an intrinsically initiated heart beat and pace initiated heart beat. Various techniques may be applied to the motion level measurements to help reduce the effect of such noise.

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: 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: 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: System and methods for energy adaptive communications between medical devices are disclosed. In one example, a medical device includes a communication module configured to deliver a plurality of pulses to tissue of a patient, where each pulse has an amount of energy. A control module operatively coupled to the communication module, may be configured to, for each delivered pulse, determine whether the delivered pulse produces an unwanted stimulation of the patient and to change the amount of energy of the plurality of pulses over time so as to identify an amount of energy that corresponds to an unwanted stimulation threshold for the pulses. The control module may then set a maximum energy value for communication pulses that is below the unwanted stimulation threshold, and may deliver communication pulses below the maximum energy value during communication with another medical device.

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 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: 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: Power saving communication techniques for communicating in a medical device system. One example medical device system may be for delivering electrical stimulation therapy to a heart of a patient, and may include a first implantable medical device implanted in a first chamber of the heart and configured to determine one or more parameters, a medical device physically spaced from and communicatively coupled to the first implantable medical device, the medical device configured to deliver electrical stimulation therapy to the heart of the patient, wherein the first implantable medical device is further configured to: compare a value of a first determined parameter to a first threshold; if the value of the first determined parameter passed the first threshold, communicate a first indication to the medical device; and if the value of the first determined parameter has not passed the first threshold, not communicating the first indication to the medical device.

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: 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: Power saving communication techniques for communicating in a medical device system. One example medical device system may be for delivering electrical stimulation therapy to a heart of a patient, and may include a first implantable medical device implanted in a first chamber of the heart and configured to determine one or more parameters, a medical device physically spaced from and communicatively coupled to the first implantable medical device, the medical device configured to deliver electrical stimulation therapy to the heart of the patient, wherein the first implantable medical device is further configured to: compare a value of a first determined parameter to a first threshold; if the value of the first determined parameter passed the first threshold, communicate a first indication to the medical device; and if the value of the first determined parameter has not passed the first threshold, not communicating the first indication to the medical device.

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.