Dual chamber leadless pacemaker programmer and method

A programmer for use in a cardiac stimulation system, the programmer comprising:

• a memory device;
• and
• a processor coupled to the memory device, the processor configured to:
• receive first and second event messages from first and second leadless pacemakers (LPs) located in a heart, the first and second event messages received at different points in time at the programmer;
• determine the signal strengths of the first and second event messages, respectively, as received at the programmer;
• adjust first and second LP discrimination thresholds based on the received signal strengths of the first and second event messages, respectively;
• and
• utilize the first and second LP discrimination thresholds to identify which of the first and second LP transmits subsequent event messages, in order for the programmer to independently communicate with the first and second LPs.

A system for applying cardiac stimulation to a patient, the system comprising:

• a first leadless pacemaker (LP) implanted in a first chamber of a heart of the patient;
• a second LP implanted in a second chamber of the heart;
• and
• a programmer configured to:
• receive first and second event messages from the first and second LPs, the first and second event messages received at different points in time at the programmer;
• determine the signal strengths of the first and second event messages, respectively, as received at the programmer;
• adjust first and second LP discrimination thresholds based on the received signal strengths of the first and second event messages, respectively;
• and
• independently communicate with the first and second LPs utilizing the first and second LP discrimination thresholds to identify which of the first and second LP transmits subsequent event messages.