Abstract: A telemetry system enabling radio frequency (RF) communications between an implantable medical device and an external device, or programmer, in which the RF circuitry is normally maintained in a powered down state in order to conserve power. At synchronized wakeup intervals, one of the devices designated as a master device powers up its RF transmitter to request a communications session, and the other device designated as a slave device powers up its RF transmitter to listen for the request. Telemetry is conducted using a far field or near field communication link.

Abstract: A pacing system analyzer (PSA) having three or more individually controllable sensing and pacing channels provides for testing and measurement during an operation for implanting a pacemaker having three or more sensing and pacing channels. The PSA allows control and adjustment of pacing parameters including cross-channel pacing parameters relating activities between any two of the three or more channels, such as atrioventricular and interventricular pacing delays. The PSA is also capable of, among other things, displaying real-time cardiac signals, measuring amplitude and slew rate of cardiac depolarizations, and measuring lead impedance for each of the sensing and pacing channels, as well as measuring time intervals between cardiac depolarizations in two different sensing and pacing channels. In one embodiment, the PSA includes individually controllable atrial, right ventricular (RV), and left ventricular (LV) sensing and pacing channels.

Abstract: A pacing system analyzer (PSA) having three or more individually controllable sensing and pacing channels provides for testing and measurement during an operation for implanting a pacemaker having three or more sensing and pacing channels. The PSA allows control and adjustment of pacing parameters including cross-channel pacing parameters relating activities between any two of the three or more channels, such as atrioventricular and interventricular pacing delays. The PSA is also capable of, among other things, displaying real-time cardiac signals, measuring amplitude and slew rate of cardiac depolarizations, and measuring lead impedance for each of the sensing and pacing channels, as well as measuring time intervals between cardiac depolarizations in two different sensing and pacing channels. In one embodiment, the PSA includes individually controllable atrial, right ventricular (RV), and left ventricular (LV) sensing and pacing channels.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for enabling far-field radio-frequency communications with an implantable medical device in which an antenna is embedded within a dielectric compartment of the device. A helical antenna may be employed to save space while still permitting far-field telemetry over a desired range of frequencies.

Abstract: Heart rhythm status information can be provided to a user, including providing a normal heart rhythm indication if detected electrocardiogram data is indicative of a normal heart rhythm, providing an abnormal heart rhythm indication if detected electrocardiogram data is indicative of an abnormal heart rhythm. Further, a current heart rhythm can be recorded, including recording the current heart rhythm in response to the provided abnormal heart rhythm indication if an abnormal heart rhythm indication is provided in response to the first query command, and recording the current heart rhythm in response to a second patient-initiated query command from the user-interface device following a normal heart rhythm indication in response to the first query command.

Abstract: A handheld cardiac rhythm management device for use by a patient to request status information from an implantable pulse generating device and to request that the pulse generating device provide a rhythm altering shock to the patient's heart. The device includes a plurality of deadfront status indicator lamps on a front of a case that are visible to the patient when the controller is held in the patient's hand. The device also includes buttons on the front of the case and a telemetry circuit for bi-directional communication with the implantable pulse generating device.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for enabling far-field radio-frequency communications with an implantable medical device in which an antenna is embedded within a dielectric compartment of the device. A helical antenna may be employed to save space while still permitting far-field telemetry over a desired range of frequencies.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for enabling far-field radio-frequency communications with an implantable medical device utilizing the device housing as an antenna. Such radio-frequency communications can take place over much greater distances than with inductively coupled antennas.

Abstract: An implantable, self-contained, user-attachable or detachable telemetry module plugs into an implantable medical device to provide or supplement one or more telemetry functions needed by a patient having certain health conditions. A user-attachable or detachable telemetry module allows a user, such as a physician or other care provider, to select a telemetry module and attach it to a medical device. Various types of telemetry are implemented as various user-attachable or detachable telemetry modules, each providing one or more telemetry functions suitable for a particular patient whose condition imposes a particular demand on telemetry. A care provider selects a user-attachable or detachable telemetry module most suited for the particular patient, which improves healthcare cost efficiency. One example of user-attachable or detachable telemetry module includes a radio-frequency (RF) transmitter-receiver circuit module and a lead carrying an antenna.

Abstract: An implantable medical device system includes an implanted device communicating with an external device via telemetry. The implanted device and the external device each have a telemetry module connected to an antenna system to support a radio-frequency (RF) telemetry link. The antenna system of the external device has a manually or automatically controllable directionality. The controllable directionality is achieved, for example, by using two or more directional antennas, one non-directional antenna and one or more directional antennas, or an electronically steerable phased-array directional antenna.

Abstract: A telemetry system enabling radio frequency (RF) communications between an implantable medical device and an external device, or programmer, in which the RF circuitry is normally maintained in a powered down state in order to conserve power. At synchronized wakeup intervals, one of the devices designated as a master device powers up its RF transmitter to request a communications session, and the other device designated as a slave device powers up its RF transmitter to listen for the request. Telemetry is conducted using a far field or near field communication link.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for enabling radio-frequency communications with an implantable medical device utilizing far-field electromagnetic radiation. Such radio-frequency communications can take place over much greater distances than with inductively coupled antennas.

Abstract: A telemetry system enabling radio-frequency communications between an implantable medical device and an external device which requires minimal power consumption by the implantable device. The implantable device uses an antenna tuning circuit to vary the impedance of an antenna and phase modulate a carrier signal reflected back to the external device with digital message data.

Abstract: A handheld cardiac rhythm management device for use by a patient to request status information from an implantable pulse generating device and to request that the pulse generating device provide a rhythm altering shock to the patient's heart. The device includes a plurality of deadfront status indicator lamps on a front of a case that are visible to the patient when the controller is held in the patient's hand. The device also includes buttons on the front of the case and a telemetry circuit for bi-directional communication with the implantable pulse generating device.

Abstract: A handheld cardiac rhythm management device for use by a patient to request status information from an implantable pulse generating device and to request that the pulse generating device provide a rhythm altering shock to the patient's heart. The device includes a plurality of deadfront status indicator lamps on a front of a case that are visible to the patient when the controller is held in the patient's hand. The device also includes buttons on the front of the case and a telemetry circuit for bi-directional communication with the implantable pulse generating device.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for enabling far-field radio-frequency communications with an implantable medical device in which an antenna is embedded within a dielectric around the periphery of the device. Such a circumferential antenna saves space while still permitting far-field telemetry over a desired range of frequencies.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for enabling far-field radio-frequency communications with an implantable medical device in which an antenna is embedded within a dielectric compartment of the device. A helical antenna may be employed to save space while still permitting far-field telemetry over a desired range of frequencies.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for enabling radio-frequency communications with an implantable medical device utilizing far-field electromagnetic radiation. Such radio-frequency communications can take place over much greater distances than with inductively coupled antennas.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for enabling far-field radio-frequency communications with an implantable medical device utilizing the device housing as an antenna. Such radio-frequency communications can take place over much greater distances than with inductively coupled antennas.

Abstract: An implantable medical device system includes an implanted device communicating with an external device via telemetry. The implanted device and the external device each have a telemetry module connected to an antenna system to support a radio-frequency (RF) telemetry link. The antenna system of the external device has a manually or automatically controllable directionality. The controllable directionality is achieved, for example, by using two or more directional antennas, one non-directional antenna and one or more directional antennas, or an electronically steerable phased-array directional antenna.