Method and system for monitoring an internal electrical impedance of a biological object including Internal Thoracic Impedance (ITI) comprising placing two arrays of electrodes on opposite sides of the biological object, wherein each of said two arrays comprise three equally spaced electrodes; imposing an alternating electrical current between pairs of the electrodes and obtaining voltage signals representative of a voltage drop thereon, calculating two values of internal electrical impedance of the biological object corresponding to the uttermost electrodes of said two arrays of electrodes placed on the opposite sides of the biological object.

The invention relates to a method and apparatus for diagnosis of conductor anomalies, such as insulation failures, in an implantable medical device, such as an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), a pacemaker, or a neurostimulator. Insulation failures are detected and localized by identifying changes in electrical fields via surface (skin) potentials. Small variations in potential are detected along the course of the electrode near the site of insulation failure.

A lightweight, disposable and substantially radiolucent electrode or sensor assembly for that universally connects to separate, non-integrated electrodes or sensors for the monitoring of the physiological parameters of a live subject wherein the electrode assembly is comprised of one or more radiolucent electrical connectors for connecting the electrode assembly to the sensors. The present invention also discloses a method of positioning the electrode assembly on a patient whose physiological signs are being monitored such that access to the patient's chest is substantially unimpeded so as not to obstruct the electromagnetic imaging of the patient's chest, the application of defibrillation paddles or surgical procedures that require access to the chest area.

A system and method for a multi-function remote ambulatory cardiac monitoring system. The system includes a housing and a microprocessor disposed within the housing. The microprocessor controls the remote ambulatory cardiac monitoring system. The system also includes an electrode for sensing ECG signals and the electrode being in communication with the microprocessor. An integrated cellular module also is included in the system, and the cellular module is connected to the microprocessor and disposed within the housing. The integrated cellular module transmits ECG signals to a remote center.

The implantable cardiac treatment system of the present invention is capable of choosing the most appropriate electrode vector to sense within a particular patient. In certain embodiments, the implantable cardiac treatment system determines the most appropriate electrode vector for continuous sensing based on which electrode vector results in the greatest signal amplitude, or some other useful metric such as signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). The electrode vector possessing the highest quality as measured using the metric is then set as the default electrode vector for sensing. Additionally, in certain embodiments of the present invention, a next alternative electrode vector is selected based on being generally orthogonal to the default electrode vector. In yet other embodiments of the present invention, the next alternative electrode vector is selected based on possessing the next highest quality metric after the default electrode vector. In some embodiments, if analysis of the default vector is ambiguous, the next alternative electrode vector is analyzed to reduce ambiguity.

Implanted medical device data is received, where the data was sensed by a first lead portion and a sensor over a time period. The number of detected noise events sensed by the first lead portion is counted based on applying first noise detection criteria to the data sensed by the first lead portion. The number of detected noise events over the sensor is counted based on applying second noise detection criteria to the data sensed by the sensor. The mean number of detected noise events is calculated for the first lead portion and sensor based on the number of noise events sensed by the first lead portion and the number of noise events sensed by the sensor. Potential lead failure in the first lead is recorded if the number of detected noise events over the first lead is greater than the mean number of noise events by at least 5%.

Devices, systems, and methods are disclosed that identify a type of cable coupled to a receptacle of a defibrillator and that activate one or both of an ECG monitoring module and an energy storage circuit based at least in part on the identified cable type. The cable-type identification may allow a defibrillator to, for example, operate in either or both of an ECG monitoring mode and/or a therapy mode, based on the type of cable that is coupled to the defibrillator. The disclosed devices, systems, and methods can monitor an ECG of a patient and deliver defibrillation therapy to the patient, depending on the type of cable coupled to the defibrillator and/or the type of detected ECG signal of the patient.

Method and system for monitoring an internal electrical impedance of a biological object including Internal Thoracic Impedance (ITI) comprising placing two arrays of electrodes on opposite sides of the biological object, wherein each of said two arrays comprise three equally spaced electrodes; imposing an alternating electrical current between pairs of the electrodes and obtaining voltage signals representative of a voltage drop thereon, calculating two values of internal electrical impedance of the biological object corresponding to the uttermost electrodes of said two arrays of electrodes placed on the opposite sides of the biological object.

The present invention provides a medical electrode comprising a conductive metal base comprising a plate element and a boss formed on the plate element and a conductive support cylinder separate from the conductive metal base. The conductive support cylinder is rotatably mounted to the conductive metal base while remaining in electrical communication with said conductive metal base. The present invention also provides a limb clamp for an ECG device. According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent bending of the cable connecting with the medical electrode, thereby avoiding cable failure.

A medical device system and method for detecting dislodgement of a lead determines one or more characteristics of a cardiac signal received via the lead that are associated with dislodgement of the lead during atrial fibrillation, and detects dislodgement of the ventricular lead based on the determined characteristics. The medical device and system provides a lead dislodgment alert in response to detecting dislodgement. In some examples, an implantable medical device withholds delivery of a defibrillation therapy based on detecting dislodgement of the lead.