Remote sensing in an implantable medical device

A method for operating an implanted neural stimulation device, comprising:

• using an accelerometer to sense heart sounds including S1 and S2 sounds;
• and
• determining heart rate information using the sensed heart sounds;
• using the heart rate information to:
• control a neural stimulation therapy performed by the neural stimulation device;
• or
• perform diagnostics;
• and
• determining a left ventricular ejection time using the detected S1 and S2 sounds.

A method for operating an implanted neural stimulation device, comprising:

• using an accelerometer to sense respiratory activity;
• and
• using the respiratory activity to:
• control a neural stimulation therapy performed by the neural stimulation device;
• or
• perform diagnostics,
• wherein using the accelerometer to sense respiratory activity includes using the accelerometer to determine respiratory flow, and using the respiratory activity to control the neural stimulation therapy includes using the respiratory flow to control the neural stimulation therapy.

A method for operating an implanted neural stimulation device, comprising:

• using the implanted neural stimulation device to deliver a programmed neural stimulation therapy with a programmed duty cycle, wherein the programmed duty cycle includes a stimulation ON portion followed by a stimulation OFF portion;
• using an electrode electrically connected to the implanted neural stimulation device to remotely detect cardiac activity, including using the remotely detected cardiac activity to detect heart rate information during the stimulation ON portion and to detect heart rate information during the stimulation OFF portion;
• and
• using the detected heart rate information during the stimulation ON portion and the detected heart rate information during the stimulation OFF portion to:
• control a neural stimulation therapy performed by the neural stimulation device;
• or
• perform diagnostics.

An implanted neural stimulator, comprising:

• an implantable housing with a header for connecting leads;
• a neural stimulator lead configured to connect to the header;
• an antenna lead configured to connect to the header, the antenna lead including at least one electrode for use to remotely detect cardiac activity;
• a neural stimulator configured to deliver a neural stimulation therapy through the neural stimulator lead;
• and
• a controller configured to detect cardiac activity using the antenna lead, and control the neural stimulator using the detected cardiac activity.

An implanted neural stimulator for stimulating a target nerve, comprising:

• an implantable housing with a header for connecting a lead;
• a lead configured to connect to the header, wherein the lead includes a strain relief cuff configured to be positioned around the target nerve, at least one cardiac ECG sensing electrode configured for use to remotely detect cardiac activity, a neural electrode cuff with at least one neural stimulation electrode configured for use to stimulate the target nerve, and at least one neural sensing electrode configured for use to detect action potentials in the target nerve;
• a neural stimulator configured to deliver a neural stimulation therapy through a neural stimulation electrode;
• and
• a controller configured to detect cardiac activity using a cardiac ECG sensing electrode and to detect neural activity using the neural sensing electrode, and control the neural stimulator using the detected cardiac activity and the detected neural activity.

A method for operating an implanted neural stimulation device, comprising:

• using an accelerometer to sense heart sounds;
• using an electrode electrically connected to the implanted neural stimulation device to remotely detect cardiac activity:
• and
• using both the heart sounds and the remotely detected cardiac activity to:
• control a neural stimulation therapy performed by the neural stimulation device;
• or
• perform diagnostics.