Abstract: An external interface device provides telemetry between an implantable apparatus and a remote device. The interface device includes a battery powered circuit and a wireless transceiver. A power supply of the remote device is isolated from the implantable apparatus by a wireless communication link.

Abstract: A sleep disordered breathing alert system includes an implantable device configured to detect sleep disordered breathing in a patient. If the patient experiences disordered breathing during sleep, the implantable device transmits a signal to a patient-external device. The patient-external device receives the signal and generates an alert responsive to the detection of the sleep disordered breathing. The alert may be a vibration, an audible alert, a visual display, or other indicator.

Abstract: Methods and systems involve adjusting an energy used for safety pacing based on the capture threshold. The safety pacing energy may be adjusted prior to a capture threshold test. During the capture threshold test, backup safety paces are delivered using the adjusted pacing energy. Following suspension of automatic capture verification, the device may enter a suspension mode. During the suspension mode, safety pacing pulses are delivered using a pacing energy adjusted based on capture threshold.

Abstract: The date and time of death of a patient may be recorded in a memory of a microprocessor used in an implantable cardiac rhythm management device by detecting the failure of the heart to produce an evoked response upon the application of a pace pulse to the heart. To confirm death, other physiologic sensors used in the cardiac rhythm management device may also be sensed to determine the absence of an expected output signal.

Abstract: A first chamber minute ventilation rate is determined based on a first transthoracic impedance signal received from a first chamber of a heart and a second chamber minute ventilation rate is determined based on a second transthoracic impedance signal received from a second chamber of the heart. A processor compares the minute ventilation rates to determine a rate. In one embodiment, an accelerometer sensor provides data for evaluating propriety of a rate. Before implementing a rate change, signals from multiple sensors are cross-checked.

Abstract: A minute ventilation sensing device in which transthoracic impedance is measured with voltage sense electrodes during injection of current by excitation current electrodes. The device is capable of operating with different configurations of voltage sense and excitation current electrodes. By computing a signal and/or noise level for a number of available configurations, the electrodes resulting in the highest signal-to-noise ratio may be selected for use by the device.

Abstract: The date and time of death of a patient may be recorded in a memory of a microprocessor used in an implantable cardiac rhythm management device by detecting the failure of the heart to produce an evoked response upon the application of a pace pulse to the heart. To confirm death, other physiologic sensors used in the cardiac rhythm management device may also be sensed to determine the absence of an expected output signal.

Abstract: An implantable cardiac rhythm management device operable in an autothreshold or autocapture verification mode, wherein the rhythm management device is capable of detecting noise that affects signal characteristics of a sensed intracardial evoked response electrogram signal. The device includes a noise detection circuit that determines whether a minimum peak timing occurs during a predetermined time following delivery of a stimulation pulse. If a minimum peak timing occurs during the predetermined time following delivery of the stimulation pulse, then significant amounts of noise affecting the signal characteristics of the electrocardiogram signal is assumed.