Abstract: An implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) has a programmable ICD energy level corresponding to the maximum defibrillation energy deliverable with each defibrillation shock pulse. The ICD energy level is programmable within the maximum energy capacity of the defibrillation capacitor(s) of the ICD. In various embodiments, after a user enters the ICD energy level, one or more corresponding ICD performance parameters are presented. Restrictions are applied to the energy level programming of the ICD to ensure the predictability of the one or more ICD performance parameters.

Abstract: An implantable medical device may have a circuit failure mode. The disclosed circuit may have an integrated failure point designed to fail prior to those portions of the circuit. The integrated failure point may include a narrowed portion of a high voltage lead and a grounded lead having a narrow gap separating the grounded lead from the narrowed portion of the high voltage lead. During a high stress fault condition the narrowed portion of the high voltage lead acts as a fuse, forming a vaporized cloud of metal, which shorts current in the high voltage lead across the narrow gap to the grounded lead, thus protecting the remaining portion of the circuit from the high stress condition.

Abstract: A pacing monitoring system is described for incorporation in an implantable pacemaker that monitors the pacing rate and/or cumulative pace count in order to protect a patient from excessive pacing. The system includes monitoring circuitry that is configured to operate in multiple monitoring zones, where each zone is adapted to prevent excessively high-rate pacing during a particular mode of device operation.

Abstract: A method comprising providing a programmable non-volatile memory (PNVM) circuit fabricated together with a processor on an integrated circuit chip (IC) in an implantable medical device (IMD), partitioning the PNVM circuit into a plurality of portions based on how often that the processor accesses a portion, and selectively providing power or selectively restricting power to one or more of the portions according to how often that the processor accesses a portion.

Abstract: Embodiments herein generally relate to implantable medical devices and, specifically, to a system and method for providing fault tolerant processing in an implantable medical device. In an embodiment a system for providing fault tolerant processing in an implantable medical device is provided. The system can include an implantable medical device comprising a processor and memory store configured to execute a plurality of threads, temporal and spatial constraints assigned to one or more of the threads, and a kernel. The kernel can include a scheduler and a thread monitor configured to monitor execution of threads against the temporal and spatial constraints, and further configured to issue a response upon violation of either of the constraints by one of the plurality of threads. In an embodiment a method for providing fault tolerant processing in an implantable medical device is provided. Other embodiments are also included herein.

Abstract: A system and method for selectively treating a ventricular tachycardia based on sensed atrial and ventricular intervals from the patient's heart. A detection window of the ten most recent atrial and ventricular intervals are analyzed for the occurrence of either tachycardia or fibrillation. When a majority of the sensed intervals are satisfied, the apparatus starts a duration time interval. Ventricular intervals and atrial intervals are compare, ventricular interval greater than the atrial interval by a bias factor the system delivers tachycardia therapy to the heart. Alternatively, the method withholds tachycardia therapy to the heart when the atrial rate is classified as atrial fibrillation and the ventricular response is unstable.

Abstract: An intra-body ultrasonic signal can be converted into a first electrical signal, a local oscillator signal can be generated in an implantable system. The first electrical signal and the local oscillator signal can be mixed in an implantable system, such as to generate a demodulated signal, processed, such as using a filter. The filtered, demodulated signal can be further processed, such as implantably determining a peak amplitude of the first portion of the demodulated signal received from the filter over a time interval, implantably generating a dynamic tracking threshold that starts at an amplitude proportional the first portion of the demodulated signal and exponentially decays over a time interval, and determining a noise floor in the absence of a received intra-body ultrasonic signal and implantably comparing the peak amplitude and the tracking threshold and generate the digital output based on the difference.

Abstract: Abnormal battery depletion can be detected in an implantable medical device. Battery capacity consumed can be measured using a coulometer and using a capacity-by-voltage device, and the measurements can be blended to determine battery status. A drop in battery voltage below a specified threshold can be detected to identify a high-current depletion fault, and an alarm can be provided to indicate the fault has been detected. The specified threshold can be determined as a function of battery capacity consumed. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein.

Abstract: Various aspects relate to a method. In various embodiments, a therapy of a first therapy type is delivered, and it is identified whether a therapy of a second therapy type is present to affect the therapy of the first therapy type. Delivery of the therapy is controlled based on the presence of the therapy of the second therapy type. Some embodiments deliver the therapy of the first type using one set of parameters in the presence of a therapy of a second type, and deliver the therapy of the first type using another set of parameters when the therapy of the second type is not present. In various embodiments, one of the therapy types includes a cardiac rhythm management therapy, and the other includes a neural stimulation therapy. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein.

Abstract: An implantable medical device can include a Hall effect sensor. The Hall effect sensor can include a first pair of electrical contacts and a second pair of electrical contacts. In an example, the Hall effect sensor can be configured to sense a magnetic field and can be configured to provide a voltage corresponding to a magnitude of the sensed magnetic field.

Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, techniques for generating and delivering a high voltage defibrillation shock using an implantable cardiac rhythm management device. An output energy delivery bridge can be programmed to provide desired shock vectors or polarities. A bootstrapped fully solid-state switch control voltage generation circuit is described. Automatic polarity or vector reconfiguration embodiments are described, such as in response to an unsuccessful attempt to convert the heart to a normal rhythm.

Abstract: One aspect of this disclosure relates to a system for dynamic battery management in implantable medical devices. An embodiment of the system includes two or more devices for measuring battery capacity for an implantable medical device battery. The embodiment also includes a controller connected to the measuring devices. The controller is adapted to combine the measurements from the measuring devices using a weighted average to determine battery capacity consumed. According to various embodiments, at least one of the measuring devices includes a coulometer. At least one of the measuring devices includes a capacity-by-voltage device, according to an embodiment. The system further includes a display in communication with the controller in various embodiments. The display is adapted to provide a depiction of battery longevity in units of time remaining in the life of the implantable medical device battery, according to various embodiments. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises an electrostimulation energy storage capacitor, a circuit path communicatively coupled to the electrostimulation energy storage capacitor and configured to provide quasi-constant current neural stimulation through a load from the electrostimulation energy storage capacitor, a current measuring circuit communicatively coupled to the circuit path and configured to obtain a measure of quasi-constant current delivered to the load, and a control circuit communicatively coupled to the current measuring circuit, wherein the control circuit is configured to initiate adjustment of the voltage level of the storage capacitor for a subsequent delivery of quasi-constant current according to a comparison of the measured load current to a specified load current value.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for system fault recovery by an implantable medical device which employs a global fault response. The system enables the device to consistently recover from transient faults while maintaining a history of the reason for the device fault. Upon detection of a fault, the primary controller of the device signals a reset controller which then issues a reset command. All sub-systems of the primary device controller are then reset together rather than resetting individual sub-systems independently to ensure deterministic behavior.

Abstract: Various aspects relate to a method. In various embodiments, a therapy of a first therapy type is delivered, and it is identified whether a therapy of a second therapy type is present to affect the therapy of the first therapy type. Delivery of the therapy is controlled based on the presence of the therapy of the second therapy type. Some embodiments deliver the therapy of the first type using one set of parameters in the presence of a therapy of a second type, and deliver the therapy of the first type using another set of parameters when the therapy of the second type is not present. In various embodiments, one of the therapy types includes a cardiac rhythm management therapy, and the other includes a neural stimulation therapy. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein.

Abstract: An implantable medical device such as a cardiac pacemaker or implantable cardioverter/defibrillator with the capability of storing body temperature measurements taken periodically and/or when triggered by particular events.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for delivering therapy to treat ventricular tachyarrhythmias is described. In one embodiment, neural stimulation, anti-tachycardia pacing, and shock therapy are employed in a progressive sequence upon detection of a ventricular tachycardia.

Abstract: An operating mode of an implantable medical device can be selected using at least one of a current or a voltage provided in response to a magnetic field sensed using a Hall effect sensor.

Abstract: A neural stimulation system includes a safety control system that prevents delivery of neural stimulation pulses from causing potentially harmful effects. The neural stimulation pulses are delivered to one or more nerves to control the physiological functions regulated by the one or more nerves. Examples of such harmful effects include unintended effects in physiological functions associated with autonomic neural stimulation and nerve injuries caused by excessive delivery of the neural stimulation pulses.

Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, techniques for generating and delivering a high voltage defibrillation shock using an implantable cardiac rhythm management device. An output energy delivery bridge can be programmed to provide desired shock vectors or polarities. A bootstrapped fully solid-state switch control voltage generation circuit is described. Automatic polarity or vector reconfiguration embodiments are described, such as in response to an unsuccessful attempt to convert the heart to a normal rhythm.