Abstract: Systems and methods for improving conducted i2i communication between first and second implantable medical device (IMDs) are described, wherein at least one of the IMDs comprises a leadless pacemaker (LP). Respective information is stored within each of the first and second IMDs that specifies a primary communication window (PCW) for performing the conducted communication with one another when using a primary conducted communication protocol (PCCP), and also specifies an alternate communication window (ACW) for performing the conducted communication with one another when using an alternate conducted communication protocol (ACCP). At least one of the first and second IMDs monitors quality metric of the conducted communication therebetween while the PCCP is being used, and in response to the quality metric falling below a corresponding threshold, the first and second IMDs perform conducted i2i communication with one another in accordance with the ACCP during the ACW of one or more cardiac cycles.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to implantable medical devices (IMDs) and methods for use therewith. Such a method includes using an accelerometer of an IMD (e.g., a leadless pacemaker) to produce one or more accelerometer outputs indicative of the orientation of the IMD. The method can also include the IMD using an accelerometer to identify when the orientation of the IMD is such that the IMD will likely be able to successfully communicate with another IMD via one or more communication pulses sent from the IMD to the other IMD. The method also includes the IMD sending of the one or more communication pulses, that are used to communicate with the other IMD, when the orientation of the IMD is such that the IMD will likely be able to successfully communicate with the other IMD via one or more communication pulses sent from the IMD to the other IMD.

Abstract: Described herein are methods for use with an implantable system including at least an atrial leadless pacemaker (aLP). Also described herein are specific implementations of an aLP, as well as implantable systems including an aLP. In certain embodiments, the aLP senses a signal from which cardiac activity associated with a ventricular chamber can be detected by the aLP itself based on feature(s) of the sensed signal. The aLP monitors the sensed signal for an intrinsic or paced ventricular activation within a ventricular event monitor window. In response to the aLP detecting an intrinsic or paced ventricular activation itself from the sensed signal within the ventricular event monitor window, the aLP resets an atrial escape interval timer that is used by the aLP to time delivery of an atrial pacing pulse if an intrinsic atrial activation is not detected within an atrial escape interval.

Abstract: Implantable medical devices (IMDs), systems, and methods for use therewith are disclosed. One such method is for use by a leadless pacemaker (LP) configured to perform conductive communication with another implantable medical device (IMD). The method includes the LP storing information that specifies when, within a cardiac cycle, the LP and the other IMD implanted in a patient are likely oriented relative to one another such that conductive communication therebetween should be successful. The method also includes the LP sensing a signal indicative of cardiac activity of the patient over a plurality of cardiac cycles, and outputting one or more conductive communication pulses, during a portion of at least one of the cardiac cycles, wherein the portion of the at least one of the cardiac cycles is identified based on the signal that is sensed and the information that is stored.

Abstract: Described herein are methods for use with an implantable system including at least an atrial leadless pacemaker (aLP). Also described herein are specific implementations of an aLP, as well as implantable systems including an aLP. In certain embodiments, the aLP senses a signal from which cardiac activity associated with a ventricular chamber can be detected by the aLP itself based on feature(s) of the sensed signal. The aLP monitors the sensed signal for an intrinsic or paced ventricular activation within a ventricular event monitor window. In response to the aLP detecting an intrinsic or paced ventricular activation itself from the sensed signal within the ventricular event monitor window, the aLP resets an atrial escape interval timer that is used by the aLP to time delivery of an atrial pacing pulse if an intrinsic atrial activation is not detected within an atrial escape interval.

Abstract: A method for generating contour data is provided. The method for generating contour data includes acquiring an image-guided contour of a target object, the image-guided contour including a target to be monitored; setting a contour type of the image-guided contour to be an image-guided type, which is customized in a contour type in contour data, wherein the image-guided contour of the image-guided type is intended to monitor motion of the target to be monitored of the target object; and saving contour data corresponding to the image-guided contour of the image-guided type in contour data of the target object.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to implantable medical devices (IMDs) and methods for use therewith. Such a method includes using an accelerometer of an IMD (e.g., a leadless pacemaker) to produce one or more accelerometer outputs indicative of the orientation of the IMD. The method can also include the IMD using an accelerometer to identify when the orientation of the IMD is such that the IMD will likely be able to successfully communicate with another IMD via one or more communication pulses sent from the IMD to the other IMD. The method also includes the IMD sending of the one or more communication pulses, that are used to communicate with the other IMD, when the orientation of the IMD is such that the IMD will likely be able to successfully communicate with the other IMD via one or more communication pulses sent from the IMD to the other IMD.

Abstract: Implantable medical devices (IMDs), systems, and methods for use therewith are disclosed. One such method is for use by a leadless pacemaker (LP) configured to perform conductive communication with another implantable medical device (IMD). The method includes the LP storing information that specifies when, within a cardiac cycle, the LP and the other IMD implanted in a patient are likely oriented relative to one another such that conductive communication therebetween should be successful. The method also includes the LP sensing a signal indicative of cardiac activity of the patient over a plurality of cardiac cycles, and outputting one or more conductive communication pulses, during a portion of at least one of the cardiac cycles, wherein the portion of the at least one of the cardiac cycles is identified based on the signal that is sensed and the information that is stored.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to implantable medical devices (IMDs) and methods for use therewith. Such a method includes using an accelerometer of an IMD (e.g., a leadless pacemaker) to produce one or more accelerometer outputs indicative of the orientation of the IMD. The method can also include controlling communication pulse parameter(s) of one or more communication pulses (produced by pulse generator(s)) based on accelerator output(s) indicative of the orientation of the IMD. The communication pulse parameter(s) that is/are controlled can be, e.g., communication pulse amplitude, communication pulse width, communication pulse timing, and/or communication pulse morphology. Such embodiments can be used to improve conductive communications between IMDs whose orientation relative to one another may change over time, e.g., due to changes in posture and/or due to cardiac motion over a cardiac cycle.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for interactive contouring of a medical image, The method includes: running a contour service process to receive patient information to be contoured, perform contouring based on the patient information to be contoured, and save a contouring result; and running an access service process to acquire, in response to an access request for a contouring result of a first target patient, the contouring result of the first target patient from the saved contouring result, and send the acquired contouring result to a user terminal.

Abstract: Provided is a method for processing a medical image. In the method, a processing result is acquired by processing, without acquiring a user operation, an acquired medical image of a target object, and subsequently, the processing result is output in response to acquiring a user operation triggered by a user for viewing a processed medical image.

Abstract: Described herein are methods for use with an implantable system including at least an atrial leadless pacemaker (aLP). Also described herein are specific implementations of an aLP, as well as implantable systems including an aLP. In certain embodiments, the aLP senses a signal from which cardiac activity associated with a ventricular chamber can be detected by the aLP itself based on feature(s) of the sensed signal. The aLP monitors the sensed signal for an intrinsic or paced ventricular activation within a ventricular event monitor window. In response to the aLP detecting an intrinsic or paced ventricular activation itself from the sensed signal within the ventricular event monitor window, the aLP resets an atrial escape interval timer that is used by the aLP to time delivery of an atrial pacing pulse if an intrinsic atrial activation is not detected within an atrial escape interval.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to implantable medical devices (IMDs) and methods for use therewith. Such a method includes using an accelerometer of an IMD (e.g., a leadless pacemaker) to produce one or more accelerometer outputs indicative of the orientation of the IMD. The method can also include controlling communication pulse parameter(s) of one or more communication pulses (produced by pulse generator(s)) based on accelerator output(s) indicative of the orientation of the IMD. The communication pulse parameter(s) that is/are controlled can be, e.g., communication pulse amplitude, communication pulse width, communication pulse timing, and/or communication pulse morphology. Such embodiments can be used to improve conductive communications between IMDs whose orientation relative to one another may change over time, e.g., due to changes in posture and/or due to cardiac motion over a cardiac cycle.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to implantable medical devices (IMDs) and methods for use therewith. Such a method includes using an accelerometer of an IMD (e.g., a leadless pacemaker) to produce one or more accelerometer outputs indicative of the orientation of the IMD. The method can also include controlling communication pulse parameter(s) of one or more communication pulses (produced by pulse generator(s)) based on accelerometer output(s) indicative of the orientation of the IMD. The communication pulse parameter(s) that is/are controlled can be, e.g., communication pulse amplitude, communication pulse width, communication pulse timing, and/or communication pulse morphology. Such embodiments can be used to improve conductive communications between IMDs whose orientation relative to one another may change over time, e.g., due to changes in posture and/or due to cardiac motion over a cardiac cycle.

Abstract: A countertop oven includes a housing having a rear panel, an upper panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, an opposing second side panel and an open front end, together defining a cooking cavity therebetween. The cooking cavity is accessible via the open front end of the housing. At least one heating element within the housing selectively heats the cooking cavity. A door is movably attached to the housing via at least one 4-bar linkage mechanism. The door is selectively movable between a closed position, wherein the open front end of the housing is covered by the door, and an open position, wherein the door is positioned generally atop the upper panel of the housing, thereby uncovering the open front end of the housing to access the cooking cavity.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to implantable medical devices (IMDs) and methods for use therewith. Such a method includes using an accelerometer of an IMD (e.g., a leadless pacemaker) to produce one or more accelerometer outputs indicative of the orientation of the IMD. The method can also include controlling communication pulse parameter(s) of one or more communication pulses (produced by pulse generator(s)) based on accelerator output(s) indicative of the orientation of the IMD. The communication pulse parameter(s) that is/are controlled can be, e.g., communication pulse amplitude, communication pulse width, communication pulse timing, and/or communication pulse morphology. Such embodiments can be used to improve conductive communications between IMDs whose orientation relative to one another may change over time, e.g., due to changes in posture and/or due to cardiac motion over a cardiac cycle.

Abstract: A countertop oven includes a housing having a rear panel, an upper panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, an opposing second side panel and an open front end, together defining a cooking cavity therebetween. The cooking cavity is accessible via the open front end of the housing. At least one heating element within the housing selectively heats the cooking cavity. A door is movably attached to the housing via at least one 4-bar linkage mechanism. The door is selectively movable between a closed position, wherein the open front end of the housing is covered by the door, and an open position, wherein the door is positioned generally atop the upper panel of the housing, thereby uncovering the open front end of the housing to access the cooking cavity.

Abstract: A countertop oven includes a housing having a rear panel, an upper panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, an opposing second side panel and an open front end, together defining a cooking cavity therebetween. The cooking cavity is accessible via the open front end of the housing. At least one heating element within the housing selectively heats the cooking cavity. A door is movably attached to the housing via at least one 4-bar linkage mechanism. The door is selectively movable between a closed position, wherein the open front end of the housing is covered by the door, and an open position, wherein the door is positioned generally atop the upper panel of the housing, thereby uncovering the open front end of the housing to access the cooking cavity.

Abstract: An implantable system includes terminals, a pulse generator, a sensing circuit, separate signal processing channels, and first, second and third multiplexers. The terminals are connected to electrodes via conductors of leads. Different subsets of the electrodes are used to define different electrical pulse delivery vectors, and different subsets of the electrodes are used to define different sensing vectors. The pulse generator produces electrical pulses, and the sensing circuit senses a signal indicative of an impedance associated with a selected sensing vector. The first multiplexer selectively connects outputs of the pulse generator to a selected one of the different electrical pulse delivery vectors at a time. The second multiplexer selectively connect inputs of the sensing circuit to a selected one of the different sensing vectors at a time. The third multiplexer selectively connects an output of the sensing circuit to one of the plurality of separate signal processing channels at a time.

Abstract: A bioelectric battery may be used to power implantable devices. The bioelectric battery may have an anode electrode and a cathode electrode separated by an insulating member comprising a tube having a first end and a second end, wherein said anode is inserted into said first end of said tube and said cathode surrounds said tube such that the tube provides a support for the cathode electrode. The bioelectric battery may also have a membrane surrounding the cathode to reduce tissue encapsulation. Alternatively, an anode electrode, a cathode electrode surrounding the cathode electrode, a permeable membrane surrounding the cathode electrode. An electrolyte is disposed within the permeable membrane and a mesh surrounds the permeable membrane. In an alternative embodiment, a pacemaker housing acts as a cathode electrode for a bioelectric battery and an anode electrode is attached to the housing with an insulative adhesive.