Abstract: Systems and methods are described and illustrated for percutaneously implanting a stimulation lead for treating sleep-related disordered breathing.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically implementing a therapy for treating sleep disordered breathing.

Abstract: According to various method embodiments, a person is indicated for a therapy to treat a cardiovascular disease, and the therapy is delivered to the person to treat the cardiovascular disease. Delivering the therapy includes delivering a vagal stimulation therapy (VST) to a vagus nerve of the person at a therapeutically-effective intensity for the cardiovascular disease that is below an upper boundary at which upper boundary the VST would lower an intrinsic heart rate during the VST.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a communication channel comprising a plurality of disparate sequential communication links configured to facilitate bi-direction communication between an implantable medical device (IMD) and a programmer. A transceiver is configured to communicate with the programmer via a first communication link of the plurality of disparate communication links. A telemetry device is configured to communicate with the IMD via a second communication link of the plurality of disparate communication links. A third communication link communicatively couples the transceiver and the telemetry device. A power source is coupled to the transceiver and to the telemetry apparatus. An operational status of at least the first and second communication links can be individually determined in real-time.

Abstract: The presence of disordered breathing is detected using an implantable medical device. A cardiac condition is detected that is indicative of the patient's cardiac status. Based on the presence of disordered breathing and the cardiac condition, the patient is identified as suitable for a cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Abstract: A system for facilitating placement of a lead in or on a patient's heart includes a first lead apparatus, a second lead apparatus, a user interface, and a processor. The processor is configured to measure a distance parameter indicative of a distance between a reference sensor element at a right heart location and a lead apparatus sensor element at each of a plurality of left heart locations in either the left ventricle or a coronary venous pathway, determine a separation distance for each of the plurality of left heart locations from the right heart location based on the distance parameter measurements, and determine that the separation distance for a location of the plurality of left heart locations from the right heart location is less than a threshold distance based on the separation distance for the location. The threshold distance representative of unsuitability for pacing.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described and illustrated for percutaneously implanting a stimulation lead for treating sleep-related disordered breathing.

Abstract: A programmer is configured to effect communication with, and programming of, an implantable medical device configured to deliver neurostimulation therapy. The programmer comprises a display, such as touch screen display, and a processor comprising memory and coupled to the display. An interface is coupled to the processor and configured to receive therapy settings data indicative of current therapy settings operative in the implantable medical device and any modifications made to the therapy settings by a patient. The processor is configured to determine if one or more therapy settings have been modified since the last interaction with the patient, and coordinate displaying of the current therapy settings, the one or more therapy settings modified by the patient, and a previous state of the one or more therapy settings modified by the patient on the display.

Abstract: According to various method embodiments, a person is indicated for a therapy to treat a cardiovascular disease, and the therapy is delivered to the person to treat the cardiovascular disease. Delivering the therapy includes delivering a vagal stimulation therapy (VST) to a vagus nerve of the person at a therapeutically-effective intensity for the cardiovascular disease that is below an upper boundary at which upper boundary the VST would lower an intrinsic heart rate during the VST.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a communication channel comprising a plurality of disparate sequential communication links configured to facilitate bi-direction communication between an implantable medical device (IMD) and a programmer. A transceiver is configured to communicate with the programmer via a first communication link of the plurality of disparate communication links. A telemetry device is configured to communicate with the IMD via a second communication link of the plurality of disparate communication links. A third communication link communicatively couples the transceiver and the telemetry device. A power source is coupled to the transceiver and to the telemetry apparatus. An operational status of at least the first and second communication links can be individually determined in real-time.

Abstract: A patient control is disclosed that facilitates operation of an implantable medical device.

Abstract: A system for facilitating placement of a lead in or on a patient's heart includes a first lead apparatus, a second lead apparatus, a user interface, and a processor. The processor is configured to measure a distance parameter indicative of a distance between a reference sensor element at a right heart location and a lead apparatus sensor element at each of a plurality of left heart locations in either the left ventricle or a coronary venous pathway, determine a separation distance for each of the plurality of left heart locations from the right heart location based on the distance parameter measurements, and determine that the separation distance for a location of the plurality of left heart locations from the right heart location is less than a threshold distance based on the separation distance for the location. The threshold distance representative of unsuitability for pacing.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a communication channel comprising a plurality of disparate sequential communication links configured to facilitate bi-direction communication between an implantable medical device (IMD) and a programmer. A transceiver is configured to communicate with the programmer via a first communication link of the plurality of disparate communication links. A telemetry device is configured to communicate with the IMD via a second communication link of the plurality of disparate communication links. A third communication link communicatively couples the transceiver and the telemetry device. A power source is coupled to the transceiver and to the telemetry apparatus. An operational status of at least the first and second communication links can be individually determined in real-time.

Abstract: According to various method embodiments, a person is indicated for a therapy to treat a cardiovascular disease, and the therapy is delivered to the person to treat the cardiovascular disease. Delivering the therapy includes delivering a vagal stimulation therapy (VST) to a vagus nerve of the person at a therapeutically-effective intensity for the cardiovascular disease that is below an upper boundary at which upper boundary the VST would lower an intrinsic heart rate during the VST.

Abstract: Systems and methods facilitate placement of a lead in or on a patient's heart. At least one reference sensor is positioned at a right heart location of a patient's heart and a cardiac lead apparatus comprising at least one lead apparatus sensor is advanced to a plurality of left heart locations. Using the reference sensor and the lead apparatus sensor, a distance parameter indicative of a distance between the reference and lead apparatus sensors is measured for each of the plurality of left heart locations. Strain or stress estimates are determined for the plurality of left heart locations derived from the distance parameter measurements. Using the strain or stress estimates, a physician perceivable output is produced indicating suitability of the left heart locations as pacing sites.

Abstract: An electrode cuff includes a first elongate portion and a second elongate portion. The first elongate portion is configured to removably contact a length of a nerve while the second elongate portion extends outwardly at an angle relative to a first side edge of the first elongate portion to at least partially wrap about the nerve. The electrode cuff includes a first series of electrodes that is spaced apart longitudinally along the first elongate portion. A width of the second elongate portion is sized to fit between adjacent branches extending from a nerve.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically implementing a therapy for treating sleep disordered breathing.

Abstract: According to various method embodiments, a person is indicated for a therapy to treat a cardiovascular disease, and the therapy is delivered to the person to treat the cardiovascular disease. Delivering the therapy includes delivering a vagal stimulation therapy (VST) to a vagus nerve of the person at a therapeutically-effective intensity for the cardiovascular disease that is below an upper boundary at which upper boundary the VST would lower an intrinsic heart rate during the VST.

Abstract: Various approaches to detecting arousals from sleep involve generating signals modulated by muscle tone, brainwave activity, and/or other nervous system activity associated with a patient's autonomic arousal response. Generating the signals and/or detecting autonomic arousals from sleep may be performed using an implantable device. Arousal information may be useful to identify sleep disorder events associated with arousals from sleep, for diagnostic purposes, and/or for therapy adjustment.

Abstract: A system and method provides for determining patient eligibility for receiving an implantable upper airway stimulation system. Images and sensed data are obtained regarding an upper airway of a patient. Based on the obtained image and sensed data, an obstruction vector is determined according to a location, a pattern, and a degree of obstruction along the upper airway. A patient candidate filter is applied against a patient health profile. Patient eligibility is determined based on the obstruction vector and application of the patient candidate filter.