Abstract: A renal denervation catheter includes a catheter shaft, at least one ablation member, and a sensor, and is operable to perform a renal denervation procedure. The catheter shaft includes a distal end portion insertable into a renal artery. The at least one ablation member is positioned at the distal end portion of the catheter shaft and operable to ablate renal nerves along a wall of the renal artery. The sensor provides information that correlates to blood flow in the renal artery. A change in blood flow rate in the renal artery resulting from the ablation is indicative of the efficacy of the renal denervation procedure.

Abstract: A renal denervation catheter includes a catheter shaft, at least one ablation member, and a sensor, and is operable to perform a renal denervation procedure. The catheter shaft includes a distal end portion insertable into a renal artery. The at least one ablation member is positioned at the distal end portion of the catheter shaft and operable to ablate renal nerves along a wall of the renal artery. The sensor provides information that correlates to blood flow in the renal artery. A change in blood flow rate in the renal artery resulting from the ablation is indicative of the efficacy of the renal denervation procedure.

Abstract: A method and system for deriving effectiveness of medical treatment of a patient are provided that include collecting patient state (PS) data from at least one of an implantable medical device (IMD) or an external medical device (EMD) over a collection interval. The collected PS data relates to a physiologic characteristic (PC) of the patient. The PS data is transferred to a database that is remote from the patient to form a patient state data (PSD) history. The patient undergoes a pivotal medical event (PME) during the collection interval. The PS data within the PSD history is analyzed before and after the PME to propose a treatment therapy (TT). Following delivery of the TT, the collecting and transferring operations are repeated to obtain post-treatment PS data and form a post-treatment PSD history. An effectiveness indicator (EI) of the TT is derived based on at least the post-treatment PSD history.

Abstract: A method for reducing occurrences of atrial arrhythmias includes obtaining measures indicative of atrial pressure of a patient, and monitoring for a change in the measures indicative of atrial pressure that is indicative of an increased vulnerability to an atrial arrhythmia. In response to detecting the change in the measures indicative of atrial pressure that is indicative of the increased vulnerability to an atrial arrhythmia, pacing therapy that is adapted to reduce atrial pressure and thereby reduce vulnerability to an atrial arrhythmia is selectively delivered. Additionally, or alternatively, pacing therapy is adjusted to reduce atrial pressure and thereby reduce vulnerability to an atrial arrhythmia.

Abstract: A method for reducing occurrences of atrial arrhythmias includes obtaining measures indicative of atrial pressure of a patient, and monitoring for a change in the measures indicative of atrial pressure that is indicative of an increased vulnerability to an atrial arrhythmia. In response to detecting the change in the measures indicative of atrial pressure that is indicative of the increased vulnerability to an atrial arrhythmia, pacing therapy that is adapted to reduce atrial pressure and thereby reduce vulnerability to an atrial arrhythmia is selectively delivered. Additionally, or alternatively, pacing therapy is adjusted to reduce atrial pressure and thereby reduce vulnerability to an atrial arrhythmia.

Abstract: Implantable medical devices, such as pacemakers or implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs), are vulnerable to the powerful magnetic fields associated with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In particular, pulsed gradient components, if strong enough, can induce parasitic currents that may damage the device or cause parasitic pacing that may trigger an arrhythmia in the patient. The static magnetic field components of the MRI typically do not induce parasitic currents, even though they may be as strong as the pulsed gradient components. Accordingly, techniques are described herein for specifically addressing the pulsed gradient components of the MRI fields so as to reduce the risk of parasitic currents. In one example, a pacemaker switches to tri-state pacing outputs in the presence of strong pulsed gradient magnetic fields. The device continues with normal bi-state pacing outputs so long as the pulsed gradient fields are not strong, even in the presence of a strong static magnetic field.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring a patient's cardiac electrical activity is disclosed. The method includes determining a characteristic of the cardiac signals during a detected episode of atrial fibrillation. The method further includes comparing the characteristic to an atrial fibrillation therapy threshold and if the characteristic is less than or equal to the atrial fibrillation therapy threshold further comparing the characteristic to a self-termination threshold. If the characteristic is less than the self-termination threshold the method withholds anti-tachycardia therapy to allow the arrhythmia to self-terminate.