Abstract: Example electronic devices, including but not limited to implantable medical devices, and methods employing dynamic announcing for creation of wireless communication connections are disclosed herein. In an example, an electronic device includes a wireless communication interface to transmit announcement signals for creating a wireless communication connection with the external device. The electronic device also includes a sensor to detect a characteristic of an environment external to the electronic device, and a control circuit including an announcement timing control module to dynamically control timing of the announcement signals based on the detected characteristic.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for detecting arrhythmias in cardiac activity is provided. The method and systems are under control of one or more processors configured with specific executable instructions. The method and systems obtain a far field cardiac activity (CA) signal that includes a series of beats, the CA signal including paced events. The method and systems identify the paced events in the CA signals. The method and systems determine a score based on an amount of paced events and adjust at least one parameter of an atrial fibrillation (AF) detection process based on the score.

Abstract: A method, system and external instrument are provided. The method initiates a communication link between an external instrument (EI) and an implantable medical device (MD), established a first connection interval for conveying data packets between the EI and IMD and monitors a connection criteria that includes at least one of a data throughput requirement. A battery indicator or link condition of the communications link is between the IMD and EI. The method further changes from the first connection interval to a second connection interval based on the connection criteria.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for applying anti-tachycardia pacing (ATP) using subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (SICDs). An SICD implantable in a subject includes a case including a controller, and at least one conductive lead extending from the case. The at least one conductive lead includes a plurality of coil electrodes, wherein the SICD is configured, via the controller, to apply anti-tachycardia pacing (ATP) to the subject using the at least one conductive lead.

Abstract: Implantable cardiac stimulation devices configured to deliver more than one pacing pulse per cardiac cycle, and methods for use therewith, are described herein. A method can include delivering a first pacing pulse using a first pair of electrodes. Thereafter, between delivery of the first pacing pulse and delivery of second pacing pulse using a second (different) pair of electrodes, one or more voltage characteristics are measured at each of a plurality of different nodes within the cardiac stimulation device. A preferred pair of nodes for use during a fast discharge phase are identified based on the measured voltage characteristic(s). Switches within the implantable cardiac stimulation device are controlled so that the pair of nodes, identified as being the preferred pair of nodes that are to be used for performing the fast discharge phase, are used for performing the fast discharge phase to thereby achieve charge neutrality in an improved manner.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for automatically determining pace and sense configurations for an implantable cardiac device. A method of operating an implantable cardiac device includes automatically determining, during a detection phase, a pace and sense configuration for the implantable cardiac device based on a plurality of first impedance measurements. The method further includes confirming, during a confirmation phase, the pace and sense configuration based on a plurality of second impedance measurements, and operating the implantable cardiac device in accordance with the pace and sense configuration.

Abstract: Embodiments describe herein generally pertain to implantable medical device (IMDs), and methods for use therewith, that can be used to automatically switch an IMD from its normal operational mode to an MRI safe mode, and vice versa, within increased specificity. In certain embodiments, a controller of the IMD uses a magnetic field sensor to determine whether a first magnetic field condition is detected, and uses an accelerometer to determine whether a positional condition is detected. In response to the first magnetic field condition being detected, and the positional condition being detected, the controller can use the magnetic field sensor to determine whether a second magnetic field condition is detected, which differs from the first magnetic field condition. The controller can then cause the IMD to enter the MRI safe mode based at least in part on the first and second magnetic field conditions and the positional condition being detected.

Abstract: Described herein are implantable systems and devices, and methods for use therewith, that distinguish between different signal components of interest in sensed physiologic signals with high sensitivity and specificity. Such a method can include obtaining a sensed signal using an IMD and using a plurality of different filters that are parallel to one another to simultaneously filter the sensed signal, and/or copies thereof, to produce different filtered signals. Where each filter has a respective passband that does not substantially overlap with the passband(s) of the other filter(s), each of the different filtered signals will be indicative of different frequency content of the sensed signal. Additionally, amplitudes of temporally aligned peaks in at least two of the different filtered signals can be detected, and one or more peaks of the sensed signal can be classified based on the detected amplitudes of the temporally aligned peaks in the different filtered signals.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for detecting a magnetic field in a presence of an implantable medical device (IMD). The IMD includes at least one electrode and a magnetic detection sensor configured to detect a magnetic field of an external magnetic source. The IMD includes a notification circuit, and an arrhythmia circuit configured to analyze cardiac signals sensed by the electrode and to deliver a therapy based on the cardiac signals. The IMD includes an electronics circuit that is configured to suspend the delivery of the therapy in response to detection of the magnetic field by the magnetic field sensor. The electronics circuit is configured to trigger the notification circuit to generate a notification output in response to the detection of the magnetic field indicating that the therapy has been suspended.

Abstract: Example electronic devices, including but not limited to implantable medical devices, and methods employing dynamic announcing for creation of wireless communication connections are disclosed herein. In an example, an electronic device includes a wireless communication interface to transmit announcement signals for creating a wireless communication connection with the external device. The electronic device also includes a sensor to detect a characteristic of an environment external to the electronic device, and a control circuit including an announcement timing control module to dynamically control timing of the announcement signals based on the detected characteristic.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are implantable medical devices and systems, and methods for used therewith, that selectively perform atrial overdrive pacing while an intrinsic atrial rate of a patient is within a specified range. Such a method can involve measuring intervals between a plurality of intrinsic atrial depolarizations that occur during a specified period, and classifying intrinsic atrial activity as stable or unstable based on the measured intervals. In response to classifying the intrinsic atrial activity as stable, atrial overdrive pacing is performed. In response to classifying the intrinsic atrial rate as unstable, atrial overdrive pacing is not performed (i.e., is abstained from being performed). Over time, effectiveness of performing atrial overdrive pacing using various different atrial interval shorting deltas are recorded in a log and updated, and the log is used to determine a preferred rate at which to perform atrial overdrive pacing for various different measured intervals.

Abstract: A method, system and external instrument are provided. The method initiates a communication link between an external instrument (EI) and an implantable medical device (MD), established a first connection interval for conveying data packets between the EI and IMD and monitors a connection criteria that includes at least one of a data throughput requirement. A battery indicator or link condition of the communications link is between the IMD and EI. The method further changes from the first connection interval to a second connection interval based on the connection criteria.

Abstract: Example electronic devices, including but not limited to implantable medical devices, and methods employing dynamic announcing for creation of wireless communication connections are disclosed herein. In an example, an electronic device includes a wireless communication interface to transmit announcement signals for creating a wireless communication connection with the external device. The electronic device also includes a sensor to detect a characteristic of an environment external to the electronic device, and a control circuit including an announcement timing control module to dynamically control timing of the announcement signals based on the detected characteristic.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for sensing cardiac events from electrodes located proximate to one or more atrial or ventricular sites, over a period of time that includes a detection period followed by an observation period. One or more processors declare a ventricular arrhythmia episode and a corresponding VT/VF therapy based on the cardiac events during at least the detection period. The processors delay delivery of the VT/VF therapy for a self-termination period within the observation period. The self-termination period represents a time period during which the ventricular arrhythmia episode may self-terminate. The processors analyze a stability characteristic of interest (COI) from the cardiac events sensed over at least a portion the observation period and determine an end point for the self-termination period, within the observation period, based on the stability COI. The VT/VF therapy is delivered when the VT/VF arrhythmia episode continues past the end point.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for managing residual charge for multi-point pacing therapy. The method and system provide an electrode configuration that includes an atrial (A) electrode, a right ventricular (RV) electrode and multiple left ventricular (LV) electrodes. The method and system deliver pacing pulses for an MPP therapy, during a first cardiac cycle, from a pulse generator to the electrode configurations. The pacing pulses are separated by pacing pulse (PP) intervals. The method and system dynamically adjust at least one of a timing or a duration of discharge pulses for the residual charge to form a discharge sequence. The method and system activate the discharge pulses based on the discharge sequence, during the first cardiac cycle, to the multiple LV electrodes to distribute the residual charge across the PP intervals.

Abstract: A method, system and external instrument are provided. The method initiates a communication link between an external instrument (EI) and an implantable medical device (IMD), established a first connection interval for conveying data packets between the EI and IMD and monitors a connection criteria that includes at least one of a data throughput requirement. A battery indicator or link condition of the communications link is between the IMD and EI. The method further changes from the first connection interval to a second connection interval based on the connection criteria.

Abstract: Methods, devices and program products are provided for determining an early battery depletion condition for a battery powered device. The method determines a charge consumption drawn externally from a battery cell by the device for a select period of time, obtains a measured cell voltage for the battery cell of the medical device, calculates a projected cell voltage based on the charge consumption and usage conditions, and declares an early depletion condition based on a relation between the measured and projected cell voltages.

Abstract: Implantable cardiac stimulation devices configured to deliver more than one pacing pulse per cardiac cycle, and methods for use therewith, are described herein. A method can include delivering a first pacing pulse using a first pair of electrodes. Thereafter, between delivery of the first pacing pulse and delivery of second pacing pulse using a second (different) pair of electrodes, one or more voltage characteristics are measured at each of a plurality of different nodes within the cardiac stimulation device. A preferred pair of nodes for use during a fast discharge phase are identified based on the measured voltage characteristic(s). Switches within the implantable cardiac stimulation device are controlled so that the pair of nodes, identified as being the preferred pair of nodes that are to be used for performing the fast discharge phase, are used for performing the fast discharge phase to thereby achieve charge neutrality in an improved manner.

Abstract: An implantable medical device is provided that comprises a pulse generator circuit that times delivery of ventricular pacing pulses based on a base intracardiac interval (ICI). A processor is provided that has memory storing program instructions and storing atrial and ventricular events over multiple cardiac cycles and that is responsive to execution of the program instructions. The processor adjusts the base ICI by an ICI adjustment, during one or more of the multiple cardiac cycles, to promote intrinsic heart activity. The processor further counts a number of the cardiac cycles in which the ICI adjustments occurred in conjunction with arrhythmias to identify an excessive adjustment count and modifies the ICI adjustment to utilize a new ICI adjustment based on the excessive adjustment count.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided to manage display of cardiac signals. The methods and systems receive a first data steam along a first communications path conveyed with first throughput and receiving a second data stream along a second communications path transmitted with second throughput. The first and second throughputs are asynchronous with respect to one another. The first and second data streams carry cardiac signals sensed by external and implanted electrodes, respectively, for one or more common events. The methods and systems store data from the first and second data streams in first and second memory buffers. The methods and systems synchronize the data stored in the first and second memory buffers with one another by performing at least one of: temporally offsetting activation of the storing operation for the first and second data streams with respect to one another; or managing an amount of the data maintained in at least one of the first memory buffer or the second memory buffer.