Unitary Subcutaneous Only Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator and Optional Pacer
First Claim
1. A method of implanting a cardiac stimulus device into a patient comprising:
- developing a space for receiving the cardiac stimulus device beneath the skin and over the ribcage of the patient; and
inserting a unitary cardiac stimulus device into the developed space;
wherein;
the unitary cardiac stimulus device comprises power supply, electronics, and electrodes such that, once implantation is complete, each of the power supply, electronics and electrodes are disposed within the developed space between the skin and the ribcage of the patient; and
the unitary cardiac stimulus device has an elongated shape that conforms to the shape of one of the patient'"'"'s ribs once implanted.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A unitary subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator which has a long thin housing in the shape of a patient'"'"'s rib. The housing contains a source of electrical energy, a capacitor, and operational circuitry that senses the presence of potentially fatal heart rhythms. Provided on the housing are cardioversion/defibrillation electrodes located to deliver electrical cardioversion-defibrillation energy when the operational circuitry senses a potentially fatal heart rhythm. The unitary subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator does not have a transvenous, intracardiac, epicardial, or subcutaneous electrode.
69 Citations
25 Claims
-
1. A method of implanting a cardiac stimulus device into a patient comprising:
-
developing a space for receiving the cardiac stimulus device beneath the skin and over the ribcage of the patient; and
inserting a unitary cardiac stimulus device into the developed space;
wherein;
the unitary cardiac stimulus device comprises power supply, electronics, and electrodes such that, once implantation is complete, each of the power supply, electronics and electrodes are disposed within the developed space between the skin and the ribcage of the patient; and
the unitary cardiac stimulus device has an elongated shape that conforms to the shape of one of the patient'"'"'s ribs once implanted. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
-
6. A method of treating a patient comprising:
-
implanting a cardiac stimulus device into a subcutaneous region developed between the anterior mid-clavicular line and the posterior axillary line, the subcutaneous cardiac stimulus device having at least three electrodes placed at spaced locations thereon;
programming the subcutaneous cardiac stimulus device, once implanted, to use two best sensing electrodes in analyzing cardiac activity; and
adapting the selection of two best sensing electrodes to changes in patient physiology over time. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A method of operating an implantable cardiac stimulus device comprising:
-
analyzing a cardiac signal captured between first and second subcutaneously disposed electrodes to determine whether a patient is experiencing a cardiac arrhythmia; and
delivering a cardiac stimulus to the patient using third and fourth subcutaneously disposed electrodes if it is determined that the captured and analyzed cardiac signal indicated treatment. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
-
23. An implantable cardiac stimulus device comprising:
-
elongated housing means containing a power supply and electronics configured to analyze cardiac rhythms and deliver cardiac stimulus, the elongated housing means including at least a portion adapted to conform to a patient'"'"'s rib; and
electrode means coupled to or formed on the housing means for electrical contact with patient tissue;
wherein the electronics are configured to perform each of the following;
select first and second sensing electrodes available from the electrode means for use in detecting electrical cardiac activity; and
select first and second stimulus electrodes available from the electrode means for use in delivering cardiac stimulus. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
-
Specification