Systems and methods for communicating between medical devices. In one example, a method for communicating between a plurality of medical devices in a medical device system comprises, with a first medical device, communicating a first message to a second medical device. The method further comprises, with the second medical device, receiving the first message, wherein the first message comprises a plurality of communication pulses. A first set of the plurality of communication pulses represent a synchronization portion of the first message. A second set of the plurality of communication pulses represent a relative device address portion of the first message. A third set of the plurality of communication pulses represent a command portion of the first message. A fourth set of the plurality of communication pulses represent a payload portion of the first message.