An ambulatory medical device comprises: a sensing component to be disposed on a patient for detecting a physiological signal of the patient; and monitoring and self-test circuitry configured for detecting a triggering event and initiating one or more self-tests based on detection of the triggering event. The ambulatory medical device senses the physiological signal of the patient substantially continuously over an extended period of time.

An ambulatory medical device comprises: a sensing component to be disposed on a patient for detecting a physiological signal of the patient; and monitoring and self-test circuitry configured for detecting a triggering event and initiating one or more self-tests based on detection of the triggering event. The ambulatory medical device senses the physiological signal of the patient substantially continuously over an extended period of time.

A capacitor case sealed to retain electrolyte; a sintered anode disposed in the capacitor case, the sintered anode having a shape wherein the sintered anode includes a mating portion; a conductor coupled to the sintered anode, the conductor sealingly extending through the capacitor case to a terminal disposed on an exterior of the capacitor case; a sintered cathode disposed in the capacitor case, the sintered cathode having a shape that mates with the mating portion of the sintered anode such that the sintered cathode matingly fits in the mating portion of the sintered anode; a separator between the sintered anode and the sintered cathode; and a second terminal disposed on the exterior of the capacitor case and in electrical communication with the sintered cathode, with the terminal and the second terminal electrically isolated from one another.

Wearable devices are provided herein including wearable defibrillators, wearable devices for diagnosing symptoms associated with sleep apnea, and wearable devices for diagnosing symptoms associated with heart failure. The wearable external defibrillators can include a plurality of ECG sensing electrodes and a first defibrillator electrode pad and a second defibrillator electrode pad. The ECG sensing electrodes and the defibrillator electrode pads are configured for long term wear. Methods are also provided for using the wearable external defibrillators to analyze cardiac signals of the wearer and to provide an electrical shock if a treatable arrhythmia is detected. Methods are also disclosed for refurbishing wearable defibrillators. Methods of using wearable devices for diagnosing symptoms associated with sleep apnea and for diagnosing symptoms associated with heart failure are also provided.

An implantable medical device includes a plurality of electrodes to detect electrical activity, a motion detector to detect mechanical activity, and a controller to determine at least one electromechanical interval based on at least one of electrical activity and mechanical activity. The activity detected may be in response to delivering a pacing pulse according to an atrioventricular (AV) pacing interval using the second electrode. The electromechanical interval may be used to adjust the AV pacing interval. The electromechanical interval may be used to determine whether cardiac therapy is acceptable or whether atrial or ventricular remodeling is successful.

An implantable medical device, battery and method include memory configured to store program instructions. At least one of circuitry or a processor are configured to execute the program instructions in connection with at least one of monitoring a biological signal or administering a therapy. The device includes a battery comprising a cell stack that includes an anode, a cathode, and one or more separator layers electrically insulating the anode from the cathode. The device includes a case having a feedthrough port and a feedthrough assembly disposed in the feedthrough port. The feedthrough assembly includes a ferrule having a lumen. An inner conductor is disposed within the lumen of the ferrule. The inner conductor is formed from a material having a first composition and a first coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE). An insulating core is disposed within the lumen of the ferrule and separates the inner conductor from the ferrule. The insulating core is formed from a material having a second composition and a second CTE. The first CTE of the inner conductor is equal to or greater than the second CTE of the insulating core and the first and second compositions are molecularly bonded with one another to form a hermetic seal between the inner conductor and the insulating core.

A cardiac defibrillation system that includes a pulse generator to generate therapeutic electrical pulses and at least one lead inserted through an intercostal space in the region of a cardiac notch of the left lung of a patient, the lead having a distal end configured to transmit the therapeutic electrical pulses generated by the pulse generator to defibrillate the heart of the patient.

An automated cardiac massage device has two dynamic, multilayered compressive units oriented to compress the heart using an outer, non-compliant layer which supports an inner layer made of expandable and compressive material configured to contract and expand to facilitate cardiac filling and ejection. The compressive units are attached to a flexible apex member which modulates the shape and position of the two compressive units to provide maximal apposition to the heart while the device remains in use. Barometric pressure sensors may be incorporated on the inner layer of the compressive unit to measure the systolic and filling diastolic pressure within the heart. A third, detachable, phalange arises from the flexible apex member to provide a third station of support for the heart should the configuration of the compressive units require an additional point of support to secure the heart within the apparatus.

A method is provided for establishing a communication session with an implantable medical device (“IMD”). The method includes configuring an IMD and an external device to communicate with one another through a protocol that utilizes a dedicated advertisement channel. The advertisement period and the scan period of the protocol are independent of one another such that the advertisement and scan periods at least partially overlap intermittently after a number of cycles. When the external device detects one of the advertisement notices, the method includes establishing a communications link between the external device and the IMD.

The invention is directed to methods for diagnosing reperfusion/non-reperfusion hemorrhage and predicting cardiac arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death in subjects comprising using imaging techniques to detect regional iron oxide deposition. The invention also provides treatment methods for subject at increased risk of sudden cardiac death.