Abstract: Described herein are external devices, and methods for use therewith, that are configured to communicate with one or more implantable medical devices (IMDs) implanted within a patient using conductive communication, wherein the external device includes or is communicatively coupled to at least three external electrodes that are in contact with the patient. Certain such methods involve the external device identifying, for each IMD, of the plurality of IMDs, which one of the plurality of communication vectors is a preferred communication vector for communicating with the IMD, based on respective indicators of conductive communication quality that are determined for the plurality of communication vectors. Certain embodiments involve determining when there should be a reassessment of which one of the plurality of communication vectors is the preferred communication vector for communicating with an IMD, and in response thereto, identifying an updated preferred communication vector for communicating with the IMD.

Abstract: A computer implemented method and system for detecting arrhythmias in cardiac activity are provided. The method is under control of one or more processors configured with specific executable instructions. The method obtains cardiac activity (CA) signals at the electrodes of an implantable medical device (IMD) in connection multiple cardiac beats and with different IMD orientations relative to gravitational force. The method obtains acceleration signatures at a sensor of the IMD that are indicative of heart sounds generated during the cardiac beats. The method obtains device location information at the IMD, with respect to the gravitational force during the cardiac beats. The method groups the acceleration signatures associated with the first and second set of cardiac beats into the corresponding one of first and second posture bins based on the device location information.

Abstract: A method is provided for establishing a communication session with an implantable medical device (“IMD”). The method includes configuring an IMD and an external device to communicate with one another through a protocol that utilizes a dedicated advertisement channel. The advertisement period and the scan period of the protocol are independent of one another such that the advertisement and scan periods at least partially overlap intermittently after a number of cycles. When the external device detects one of the advertisement notices, the method includes establishing a communications link between the external device and the IMD.

Abstract: A method is provided for establishing a communication session with an implantable medical device (“IMD”). The method includes configuring an IMD and an external device to communicate with one another through a protocol that utilizes a dedicated advertisement channel. The advertisement period and the scan period of the protocol are independent of one another such that the advertisement and scan periods at least partially overlap intermittently after a number of cycles. When the external device detects one of the advertisement notices, the method includes establishing a communications link between the external device and the IMD.

Abstract: A computer implemented method and system for detecting arrhythmias in cardiac activity are provided. The method is under control of one or more processors configured with specific executable instructions. The method obtains cardiac activity (CA) signals at the electrodes of an implantable medical device (IMD) in connection multiple cardiac beats and with different IMD orientations relative to gravitational force. The method obtains acceleration signatures at a sensor of the IMD that are indicative of heart sounds generated during the cardiac beats. The method obtains device location information at the IMD, with respect to the gravitational force during the cardiac beats. The method groups the acceleration signatures associated with the first and second set of cardiac beats into the corresponding one of first and second posture bins based on the device location information.

Abstract: A method is provided for establishing a communication session with an implantable medical device (“IMD”). The method includes configuring an IMD and an external device to communicate with one another through a protocol that utilizes a dedicated advertisement channel. The advertisement period and the scan period of the protocol are independent of one another such that the advertisement and scan periods at least partially overlap intermittently after a number of cycles. When the external device detects one of the advertisement notices, the method includes establishing a communications link between the external device and the IMD.

Abstract: A method is provided for establishing a communication session with an implantable medical device (“IMD”). The method includes configuring an IMD and an external device to communicate with one another through a protocol that utilizes a dedicated advertisement channel. The advertisement period and the scan period of the protocol are independent of one another such that the advertisement and scan periods at least partially overlap intermittently after a number of cycles. When the external device detects one of the advertisement notices, the method includes establishing a communications link between the external device and the IMD.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for bridging a bi-directional communication link between an external device and an implantable medical device (IMD). The systems and methods establish a first bi-directional communication link between an external device and a wireless bridge device according to a wireless protocol, and establish a second bi-directional communication link between the wireless bridge device and an IMD concurrently with the first bi-direction communication link according to the wireless protocol. The systems and methods further receive a data packet from the external device at the wireless bridge device. The data packet is received during the communication interval. The systems and methods further transmit the data packet from the wireless bridge device to the IMD during the communication interval.

Abstract: A method is provided for establishing a communication session with an implantable medical device (“IMD”). The method includes configuring an IMD and an external device to communicate with one another through a protocol that utilizes a dedicated advertisement channel. The advertisement period and the scan period of the protocol are independent of one another such that the advertisement and scan periods at least partially overlap intermittently after a number of cycles. When the external device detects one of the advertisement notices, the method includes establishing a communications link between the external device and the IMD.

Abstract: A method is provided for establishing a communication session with an implantable medical device (“IMD”). The method includes configuring an IMD and an external device to communicate with one another through a protocol that utilizes a dedicated advertisement channel. The advertisement period and the scan period of the protocol are independent of one another such that the advertisement and scan periods at least partially overlap intermittently after a number of cycles. When the external device detects one of the advertisement notices, the method includes establishing a communications link between the external device and the IMD.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for maintaining a bi-directional communication link between an external device and an implantable medical device (IMD). The systems and methods receive a connection request from an external device at the IMD. The communication request includes one or more communication link parameters based on a wireless protocol, defining a first communication interval. The systems and methods establish a bi-directional communication link between the external device and the IMD based on the one or more communication link parameters, and receive, during the first communication interval, a data packet from the external device along a first data channel, the data packet including an adjusted communication link parameter. The adjusted communication link parameter include a second communication interval.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for bridging a bi-directional communication link between an external device and an implantable medical device (IMD). The systems and methods establish a first bi-directional communication link between an external device and a wireless bridge device according to a wireless protocol, and establish a second bi-directional communication link between the wireless bridge device and an IMD concurrently with the first bi-direction communication link according to the wireless protocol. The systems and methods further receive a data packet from the external device at the wireless bridge device. The data packet is received during the communication interval. The systems and methods further transmit the data packet from the wireless bridge device to the IMD during the communication interval.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for initiating a secured bi-directional communication session with an implantable medical device. The system and method include configuring a pulse generator (PG) device and an external device to establish a communication link there between through a wireless protocol with a defined bonding procedure. The system and method also include transmitting a static identification and dynamic seed from the PG device through a dedicated advertisement channel to the external device and generating a passkey from a pre-defined algorithm based on the dynamic seed and a static identification. Further, the system and method include starting the defined bonding procedure.

Abstract: A method is provided for establishing a communication session with an implantable medical device (“IMD”). The method includes configuring an IMD and an external device to communicate with one another through a protocol that utilizes a dedicated advertisement channel. The advertisement period and the scan period of the protocol are independent of one another such that the advertisement and scan periods at least partially overlap intermittently after a number of cycles. When the external device detects one of the advertisement notices, the method includes establishing a communications link between the external device and the IMD.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for use with implantable medical devices or trial medical devices for wirelessly connecting the devices to external instruments such as tablet computers or smartphones. In an example where the medical device is an implantable neurostimulator, the neurostimulator passively detects wireless wake-up signals generated by the external instrument, i.e. the neurostimulator “sniffs” for advertisement signals generated by the external instrument. In response to passive detection of a wake-up signal, the implantable neurostimulator determines if a response is warranted and, if so, the neurostimulator activates its wireless transmission components to transmit an acknowledgement signal to the external instrument so as to complete a wake-up and handshake protocol.

Abstract: A method for operating an implantable medical device (IMD) implanted within a patient may include scanning for a wakeup request signal from an external programmer over a first frequency band at a first power level, switching to communication over a second frequency band at a second power level after the IMD detects the wakeup request signal, wherein the switching operation initiates an initial data exchange session during a common connected time period between the IMD and the external programmer, and cycling between the first and second power levels during the common connected time period based on whether data is being exchanged between the external programmer and the IMD.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for initiating a secured bi-directional communication session with an implantable medical device. The system and method include configuring a pulse generator (PG) device and an external device to establish a communication link there between through a wireless protocol with a defined bonding procedure. The system and method also include transmitting a static identification and dynamic seed from the PG device through a dedicated advertisement channel to the external device and generating a passkey from a pre-defined algorithm based on the dynamic seed and a static identification. Further, the system and method include starting the defined bonding procedure.

Abstract: A method for operating an implantable medical device (IMD) implanted within a patient may include scanning for a wakeup request signal from an external programmer over a first frequency band at a first power level, switching to communication over a second frequency band at a second power level after the IMD detects the wakeup request signal, wherein the switching operation initiates an initial data exchange session during a common connected time period between the IMD and the external programmer, and cycling between the first and second power levels during the common connected time period based on whether data is being exchanged between the external programmer and the IMD.

Abstract: A method is provided for establishing a communication session with an implantable medical device (“IMD”). The method includes configuring an IMD and an external device to communicate with one another through a protocol that utilizes a dedicated advertisement channel. The IMD periodically transmitting advertisement notices over the dedicated advertisement channel according to the protocol. The advertisement notices being transmitted periodically at an advertisement period over multiple cycles. The method further includes repeatedly scanning the advertisement channel, by the external device, for select scanning intervals in search of the advertisement notices, the scanning operation being repeated periodically at a scan period over the multiple cycles. The advertisement period and the scan period are independent of one another such that the advertisement and scan periods at least partially overlap intermittently after a number of cycles.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for use with implantable medical devices or trial medical devices for wirelessly connecting the devices to external instruments such as tablet computers or smartphones. In an example where the medical device is an implantable neurostimulator, the neurostimulator passively detects wireless wake-up signals generated by the external instrument, i.e. the neurostimulator “sniffs” for advertisement signals generated by the external instrument. In response to passive detection of a wake-up signal, the implantable neurostimulator determines if a response is warranted and, if so, the neurostimulator activates its wireless transmission components to transmit an acknowledgement signal to the external instrument so as to complete a wake-up and handshake protocol.