Pacesetter, Inc.

Balakrishnan Shankar

Kenneth R McNeil, Ii

Scott Robert Gibson

Alan B Vogel

Mark W Kroll

Paul A Levine

Joseph J Florio

John W Poore

Yongjian Wu

Reza Shahandeh

Chao-Wen Young

Jun Yang

Matthew Whitlock

A method is provided for a bridge device to interface between an external device and an implantable medical device ('IMD'), the bridge device includes a system on a chip ('SoC') having a memory, an input/output interface, a standard wireless computer network (&#x201c;SWCN&#x201d;) controller and a bridge controller integrated into a single integrated circuit (&#x201c;IC&#x201d;). The method includes configuring the bridge controller to convert data between a Medical Implant Communication Service (MICS) protocol and a SWCN protocol, coupling a MICS controller to the SoC, and configuring the MICS controller to manage operation of a first transceiver based on the MICS protocol. The method includes configuring the SWCN controller to manage operation of a second transceiver based on the SWCN protocol, communicating between the bridge device and an IMD utilizing the first transceiver, and communicating between the bridge device and an external device utilizing the second transceiver.

System and methods for communicating between an implantable medical device and an external device

An implantable cardiac therapy device is constructed with a housing that defines first and second chambers. The first chamber holds cardiac therapy circuitry, such as sensing and/or stimulation circuitry. The second chamber holds high-frequency circuitry that transmits and receives high-frequency signals used in communication with external devices. The dual-chamber housing allows the implantable cardiac therapy device to handle high-frequency signals in an isolated environment, thereby enabling longer range telemetry, without interfering with the cardiac therapy circuitry. The implantable cardiac therapy device can be linked to a cardiac network of knowledge workers that evaluate the data generated by the device and provide instructions to remotely program the device.

Implantable cardiac therapy device with dual chamber can to isolate high-frequency circuitry

An implantable cardiac stimulation system provides autocapture assessment and lead impedance surveillance. The system includes a pulse generator that provides pacing stimulation pulses and a lead system including a plurality of electrodes that provide a plurality of different electrode configurations. The system further includes a switch that selectively couples the pulse generator to any one of the plurality of pacing electrode configurations and an autocapture circuit that performs autocapture tests with the pulse generator. The autocapture circuit includes a capture detector that detects evoked responses with an evoked response electrode configuration. When there is a failure to detect an evoked response, an impedance measuring circuit measures the lead impedance of the evoked response electrode configuration. If the measured lead impedance is outside of a given range, the switch couples the pulse generator to an electrode configuration other than the evoked response electrode configuration. Thereafter, the autocapture circuit performs a further autocapture and impedance measuring test or sets the pacing output to a level which assures capture.

Implantable cardiac stimulation system providing autocapture and lead impedance assessment and method

An implantable medical device that includes a magnetic sensor circuit that senses the presence of an external magnetic field and provides a signal that is proportionate to the strength of the magnetic field. The implantable medical device uses the variable signal to determine whether a magnetic field is being applied that is selected to activate a preselected function. In one implementation, the preselected function is a power up sequence.

System for the selective activation of functions in an implantable device by a magnetic field

A pacemaker or implantable cardioverter defibrillator is provided with a microcontroller having a general purpose microprocessor for performing high-level device functions and a sequencer for performing routine pacing functions. The general purpose microprocessor is programmed using an instruction set capable of general programming applications. The sequencer is programmed using a very simple instruction set having instructions selected only for performing routine pacing functions. The sequencer may be, for example, a programmable state machine. By providing a programmable sequencer for controlling routine pacing operations, the microprocessor is thereby free to devote its resources to performing high-level functions. Hence, the microprocessor may be operated at a lower clock frequency than would otherwise be needed if the microprocessor were also required to perform routine pacing functions and power savings are thereby achieved. By controlling all routine pacing operations using the programmable sequencer, the routine operations are thereby more expediently and reliably performed. Also, because software for the sequencer is developed using only the simple instruction set associated therewith, pacing software is quickly and reliably developed. Additional benefits are gained by isolating the pacing software from the high-level functional software to permit, for example, the microprocessor software to be replaced without affecting the sequencer software, and vice versa. Also, a method is described for generating an integrated circuit having a configuration optimized based upon predetermined software requirements. The method may be used to design the sequencer.

Implantable cardiac stimulation device having a programmable reconfigurable sequencer

An implantable cardiac stimulation device including an activity/position sensor that incorporates a magnetoresistive sensor and a magnet that are positioned so as to move relative to each other in response to activity and the body position of the patient when the device is implanted in the body of the patient. In one embodiment, the sensor includes a magnetoresistive sensor that is made from giant magnetoresistive (GMR) materials. Preferably, a magnet is positioned on a flexible cantilevered beam so as to be positioned adjacent the magnetoresistive sensor. Movement of the patient results in relative movement of the magnet with respect to the magnetoresistive sensor and generates a signal having an AC component corresponding to a patient's activity and a DC component corresponding to the patient's body position. The signal can be used by the implantable cardiac stimulation device's processor for adjusting the delivery of therapeutic electrical stimulation such as by adjusting the pacing rate of pacing pulses being delivered to the patient's heart.

Magnetoresistive-based position sensor for use in an implantable electrical device

An implantable cardiac device including an activity sensor that incorporates a magnetoresistive sensor and a magnet that are positioned so as to move relative to each other in response to activity of the patient when the device is implanted in the body of the patient. In one embodiment, the sensor includes a magnetoresistive sensor that is made from giant magnetoresistive (GMR) materials. In another embodiment, a magnet is positioned on a flexible cantilevered beam so as to be positioned adjacent the magnetoresistive sensor. Movement of the patient results in relative movement of the magnet with respect to the magnetoresistive sensor. The signal can be used by the implantable cardiac device's processor for adjusting the delivery of therapeutic electrical stimulation such as by adjusting the pacing rate of pacing pulses being delivered to the patient's heart.

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Valencia, CA, United States of America

Balakrishnan Shankar