An implantable
medical device is configured to determine a value of a monitored variable by the implantable
medical device and convert the value to a data sequence of modulated electrical
stimulation rate intervals. The implantable
medical device delivers electrical stimulation pulses according to the data sequence of modulated
stimulation rate intervals to produce a modulated activation rate of excitable tissue of a patient corresponding to the modulated
stimulation rate intervals. The modulated activation rate is detectable by a rate monitor to demodulate the value of the monitored variable data. In some examples, the implantable medical device is a pacemaker that delivers
cardiac pacing pulses according to modulated pacing rate intervals to produce a modulated
heart rate of the patient that is detectable by a
heart rate monitor to demodulate the value of the monitored variable.