Communication between a plurality of medical devices using time delays between communication pulses to distinguish between symbols

A method for communicating data from a first medical device to a second medical device, the method comprising:

• communicating consecutive conducted communication pulses from the first medical device to the second medical device;
• and
• receiving the consecutive conducted communication pulses at the second medical device, determining an amount of time between at least selected consecutive conducted communication pulses, determining one of three or more symbols for each determined amount of time based at least in part on the determined amount of time, wherein the three or more symbols comprise:
• a “0” symbol;
• a “1” symbol;
• and
• a synchronization symbol;
• and
• storing the determined symbol in a memory.

An implantable medical device comprising:

• one or more electrodes;
• a controller coupled to the one or more electrodes, the controller configured to receive a first communication pulse at a first communication pulse time and a second communication pulse at a second communication pulse time via the one or more electrodes;
• and
• the controller further configured to identify one of three or more symbols based at least in part on the time difference between the first communication pulse time and the second communication pulse time, wherein the controller identifies:
• a “0” symbol if the difference between the first communication pulse time and the second communication pulse time corresponds to a first time difference;
• a “1” symbol, if the difference between the first communication pulse time and the second communication pulse time corresponds to a second time difference;
• and
• a synchronization system if the difference between the first communication pulse time and the second communication pulse time corresponds to a third time difference.