Medtronic, Inc.

Other

Glenn C Zillmer

Robert W Stadler

Kenneth M Anderson

George J Klein

Ursula Gebhardt

Charles L Dennis

Jeffrey M Gillberg

Karen J Kleckner

D Curtis Deno

Vincent E Splett

Ruth N Klepfer

Kathleen A Prieve

Ren Zhou

Yong Kyun Cho

John E Burnes

Li Ping Wang

Vincent P Ganion

Kevin Patrick Kuehn

David E Euler

Edwin G Duffin

Dwight H Warkentin

Lawrence J Mulligan

David A Igel

Nirav Vijay Sheth

Curtis D Deno

Li Wang

Jeffery M Gillberg

Vince P Ganion

Rebn Zhou

A method of stimulation therapy and an apparatus for providing the therapy which addresses cardiac dysfunction including heart failure. The therapy employs atrial pacing pulses delivered to a heart after the atrial refractory period and timed so that they will not cause a ventricular contraction. These atrial pacing are timed to achieve beneficial effects on myocardial mechanics (efficacy) while maintaining an extremely low level of risk of arrhythmia induction. These methods may be employed individually or in combinations in an external or implantable ESS therapy delivery device.

Secure and efficacious therapy delivery for a pacing engine

A fluid status monitoring system for use in implantable cardiac stimulation or monitoring devices is provided for monitoring changes in thoracic fluid content. A fluid status monitor includes excitation pulse generating and control circuitry, and voltage and current measurement and control circuitry for performing a series of cardiac-gated, intra-thoracic impedance measurements. The cardiac-gated measurements are filtered or time-averaged to provide a fluid status impedance value, with respiratory noise removed. Based on comparative analysis of the fluid status impedance value, a clinically relevant trend in fluid status may be tentatively diagnosed and a fluid status response provided. Cross-check intra-thoracic impedance measurements performed using the same or a different excitation pathway and a different measurement pathway than the primary intra-thoracic impedance measurement configuration may be used to verify a tentative diagnosis.

Method and apparatus for monitoring tissue fluid content for use in an implantable cardiac device

An implantable medical device is configured so that all of the major components including a housing and attached leads are disposed within the vasculature of a patient. A tether extends from the housing of the device to an implant location where the tether is secured to tissue outside of the vasculature. In this manner, an intravascular medical device may be implanted at a location remote from final placement, delivered via the vasculature and anchored at the initial entry point.

Intravascular medical device

An extra-systolic stimulation (ESS) therapy addresses cardiac dysfunction including heart failure. ESS therapy employs atrial and/or ventricular extra-systoles via pacing-level stimulation to a heart. These extra-systoles must be timed correctly to achieve beneficial effects on myocardial mechanics (efficacy) while maintaining an extremely low level of risk of arrhythmia induction and excellent ICD-like arrhythmia sensing and detection (security). The present invention relates to therapy delivery guidance and options for improved ESS therapy delivery. These methods may be employed individually or in combinations in an external or implantable ESS therapy delivery device.

Secure and efficacious therapy delivery for an extra-systolic stimulation pacing engine

An implantable medical device includes two or more pacing output channels coupled to a single unipolar electrode or bipolar electrode pair. The implantable medical device can control each pacing output channel to deliver pacing pulses via the single electrode or electrode pair at different times and with different amplitudes. In some embodiments, the implantable medical device is used to deliver extra-systolic stimulation therapy. In such embodiments, a first pacing output channel can be controlled to deliver pacing pulses via the electrode or electrode pair with an amplitude sufficient to depolarize a chamber of the heart. A second pacing output channel is controlled to deliver extra-systolic pulses, which can have a lower amplitude than the pacing pulses, via the electrode or electrode pair an extra-systolic interval after sensed or paced depolarizations of the chamber. In some embodiments, the implantable medical device delivers ESS therapy and cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT).

Multiple pacing output channels

The present invention relates to the secure delivery of an extra-systolic stimulation (ESS) therapy to treat cardiac dysfunction that employs atrial and/or ventricular extra-systoles via pacing-like stimulation of the heart. These extra-systoles must be timed correctly to achieve beneficial effects on myocardial mechanics (benefit) while maintaining an extremely low level of risk of arrhythmia induction and excellent ICD-like arrhythmia sensing and detection (security). Further experience with ESS has led to improved implementation methods that depend on better blanking, ESS stimulation timing (of an 'extra-systolic interval' or ESI), and ESS therapy delivery options and guidance. These methods may be employed individually or in combinations in an external or implantable ESS therapy delivery device.

Cardiac pacing modality having improved blanking, timing, and therapy delivery methods for extra-systolic stimulation pacing therapy

Growing community of inventors

Hudson, WI, United States of America

Glenn C Zillmer