Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for discriminating heart arrhythmias. The methods and systems include identifying an arrhythmia, recording a predetermined number of beats during the arrhythmia as a base arrhythmia (BA) beats; delivering anti-tachy pacing (ATP) therapy to at least one chamber of the heart. After delivering the ATP therapy, the methods and system record at least one return beat representing cardiac activity following the ATP therapy, determines whether the return beat originated in a reference chamber of the heart, compares a morphology of the return beat to a morphology of the BA beat; and declares a VT or SVT based on the comparing operation.

Abstract: An intra-cardiac implantable medical device (IIMD) system may include a housing and an intra-cardiac (IC) device extension. The housing may be configured to be implanted entirely within a local chamber of the heart. The housing includes a base configured to be secured to the local chamber. The IC device extension may include a proximal end, a distal end, and an extension body extending there between. The proximal end may be coupled to the housing and configured to be located in the local chamber. The extension body may include an IE orientation segment connected to a chamber transition segment that is sufficient in length to extend from the local chamber into an adjacent chamber. The IE orientation segment is configured to be lodged within the adjacent chamber in order to stabilize the system within heart.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for use with an implantable cardiac rhythm management (CRMD) system equipped to deliver neurostimulation to acupuncture sites within anterior regions of the neck, thorax or abdomen of the patient. Parameters associated with the health of the patient are detected, such as parameters indicative of arrhythmia, heart failure and hypertension.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for use with an implantable medical device for evaluating mechanical cardiac dyssynchrony based impedance (Z) measured along different vectors between an electrode in the right ventricle (RV) and various electrodes of a multi-pole left ventricle (LV) lead.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for discriminating heart arrhythmias. The methods and systems include identifying an arrhythmia, recording a predetermined number of beats during the arrhythmia as a base arrhythmia (BA) beats; delivering anti-tachy pacing (ATP) therapy to at least one chamber of the heart. After delivering the ATP therapy, the methods and system record at least one return beat representing cardiac activity following the ATP therapy, determines whether the return beat originated in a reference chamber of the heart, compares a morphology of the return beat to a morphology of the BA beat; and declares a VT or SVT based on the comparing operation.

Abstract: A leadless intra-cardiac medical device includes a housing that is configured to be implanted entirely within a single local chamber of the heart. A first electrode is provided on the housing at a first position such that when the housing is implanted in the local chamber, the first electrode engages the local wall tissue at a local activation site within the conduction network of the local chamber. An intra-cardiac extension is coupled to the housing and configured to extend from the local chamber into an adjacent chamber of the heart. A stabilization arm of the intra-cardiac extension engages the adjacent chamber. A second electrode on the intra-cardiac extension engages distal wall tissue at a distal activation site within the conduction network of the adjacent chamber.

Abstract: An intra-cardiac implantable medical device (IIMD) and method of implant are provided. The IIMD comprises a housing configured to be implanted entirely within a coronary sinus (CS) of the heart. The IIMD has at least one intra-cardiac device extension (ICDE).

Abstract: An implantable medical lead is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the lead includes a body and an electrical pathway. The body may include a distal portion with an electrode and a proximal portion with a lead connector end. The electrical pathway may extend between the electrode and lead connector end and include a coiled inductor including a first portion and a second portion at least partially magnetically decoupled from the first portion. The first portion may include a first configuration having a first SRF. The second portion may include a second configuration different from the first configuration. The second configuration may have a second SRF different from the first SRF. For example, the first SRF may be near 64 MHz and the second SRF may be near 128 MHz.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for allowing an implantable medical device, such as pacemaker, to properly sense electrophysiological signals and hemodynamic signals within a patient during a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) procedure. Systems and methods are also provided for allowing the implantable medical device to transmit the sensed data to an external monitoring system during the MRI procedure so that attending medical personnel can closely monitor the health of the patient and the operation of the implantable device during the MRI. These improvements provide the attending personnel with information needed to determine whether the MRI should be suspended in response to induced tachyarrhythmias or other adverse conditions within the patient.

Abstract: A leadless implantable medical device (LIMD) includes a housing formed from a battery and an end cap. A proximal end of the end cap forms an LIMD proximal end and a distal end of the battery case forms an LIMD distal end. A non-conductive coupler mechanically secures a terminal end of the battery case to a mating end of the end cap, while maintaining the battery case and end cap electrically separated. A first electrode projects from the proximal end of the end cap. An intra-cardiac (IC) device extension projects from the distal end of the battery case. The extension includes a second electrode that is electrically connected to the battery case. The second electrode is located remote from the LIMD distal end. An electronics module is located within an internal cavity of the end cap and communicates with the first and second electrodes.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, an implantable lead assembly is provided comprised of an elongated body including a distal end, a proximal end having a header connector portion for coupling the elongated body with an implantable medical device, and an intermediate segment located between the distal and proximal ends. An intermediate electrode is disposed at the intermediate segment along the elongated body. A conductor is disposed in the elongated body and electrically coupled with the header connector portion and the intermediate electrode. The conductor wound within the intermediate segment to form first and second inductive coils that are axially separated from each other by an inter-coil gap, wherein the first and second inductive coils have different self-resonant frequencies.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, an implantable lead assembly is provided comprised of an elongated body including a distal end, a proximal end having a header connector portion for coupling the elongated body with an implantable medical device, and an intermediate segment located between the distal and proximal ends. An intermediate electrode is disposed at the intermediate segment along the elongated body. A conductor is disposed in the elongated body and electrically coupled with the header connector portion and the intermediate electrode. The conductor wound within the intermediate segment to form first and second inductive coils that are axially separated from each other by an inter-coil gap, wherein the first and second inductive coils have different self-resonant frequencies.

Abstract: An implantable lead is provided that comprises a lead body and a header assembly. The lead body has a distal end and a proximal end. The lead body is configured to be implanted in a patient. The header assembly is provided at the distal end of the lead body and includes an internal chamber and a tissue engaging end. An electrode is provided on the header assembly. The electrode is configured to deliver a stimulating pulse. A resonant inductor is located within the chamber in the header assembly. An electrically floating heat spreader is provided on the header assembly. The heat spreader is located proximate to the resonant inductor and is positioned on the header assembly to cover at least a portion of the resonant inductor. The heat spreader is thermally coupled to the resonant inductor to convey thermal energy away from the header assembly.

Abstract: An implantable lead includes a lead body having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion with a connector located at the proximal end and an electrode located at the distal end. The implantable lead further includes a coil conductor that has spiral sections wound within a lumen of the lead body and couples the lead connector to the electrode. The coil conductor has an insulation material provided on at least a segment of the coil conductor. The insulation material has a dielectric constant set such that the coil conductor forms a distributed band stop filter when exposed to a known RF magnetic field. The coil conductor comprises a filar wound into the spiral sections. The filar of the coil conductor has an insulation coating provided thereon with the insulation coating forming a dielectric layer between adjacent spiral sections of the filar.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for estimating left atrial pressure (LAP) or other cardiac performance parameters based on measured conduction delays. In particular, LAP is estimated based interventricular conduction delays. Predetermined conversion factors stored within the device are used to convert the various the conduction delays into LAP values or other appropriate cardiac performance parameters. The conversion factors may be, for example, slope and baseline values derived during an initial calibration procedure performed by an external system, such as an external programmer. In some examples, the slope and baseline values may be periodically re-calibrated by the implantable device itself. Techniques are also described for adaptively adjusting pacing parameters based on estimated LAP or other cardiac performance parameters. Still further, techniques are described for estimating conduction delays based on impedance or admittance values and for tracking heart failure therefrom.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for estimating left atrial pressure (LAP) or other cardiac performance parameters based on measured conduction delays. In particular, LAP is estimated based interventricular conduction delays. Predetermined conversion factors stored within the device are used to convert the various the conduction delays into LAP values or other appropriate cardiac performance parameters. The conversion factors may be, for example, slope and baseline values derived during an initial calibration procedure performed by an external system, such as an external programmer. In some examples, the slope and baseline values may be periodically re-calibrated by the implantable device itself. Techniques are also described for adaptively adjusting pacing parameters based on estimated LAP or other cardiac performance parameters. Still further, techniques are described for estimating conduction delays based on impedance or admittance values and for tracking heart failure therefrom.

Abstract: An implantable medical device controls the excitation of and processes signals received from passive pressure sensor components of an implantable lead. The passive pressure sensor components include an inductor-capacitor (L-C) resonant circuit that has a resonant frequency that corresponds in some aspects to the pressure external to the implantable lead. The capacitive circuit portion of the resonant circuit may be flexible such that changes in pressure at the capacitive circuit cause changes in the capacitance of the capacitive circuit. Thus, changes in pressure at the pressure sensor are reflected by changes in the resonant frequency of the excited resonant circuit. The L-C resonant circuit is excited by a signal coupled to the L-C resonant circuit by the implantable medical device. In some embodiments, the implantable medical device receives such an excitation signal from an external device. In some embodiments, the implantable medical device generates the excitation signal.

Abstract: A passive pressure sensor is used with an implantable lead to measure pressure within a patient's heart. In some embodiments, the passive pressure sensor is incorporated into an implantable lead. In other embodiments, the passive pressure sensor is incorporated into a device that is slid onto an implantable lead.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for use with an implantable cardiac stimulation device equipped for multi-site left ventricular (MSLV) pacing using a multi-pole LV lead. In one example, referred to herein as QuickStim, cardiac pacing configurations are optimized based on an assessment of hemodynamic benefit and device longevity. In another example, referred to herein as QuickSense, cardiac sensing configurations are optimized based on sensing profiles input by a clinician. Various virtual sensing channels are also described that provide for the multiplexing or gating of sensed signals. Anisotropic oversampling is also described.

Abstract: A leadless intra-cardiac medical device (LIMD) includes multiple electrodes that allow for stimulation and sensing of the right ventricle (RV) and sensing of the right atrium (RA), even though it is entirely located in the RV. The LIMD includes a housing having a proximal end configured to engage local tissue in the local chamber and electrodes located at multiple locations along the housing. Sensing circuitry is configured to define a far field (FF) channel between a first combination of the electrodes to sense FF signals occurring in the adjacent chamber. The sensing circuitry is configured to define a near field (NF) channel between a second combination of the electrodes to sense NF signals occurring in the local chamber. A controller is configured to analyze the NF and FF signals to determine whether the NF and FF signals collectively indicate that a validated event of interest occurred in the adjacent chamber.