Subcutaneous implantable cardioverter/defibrillator
First Claim
1. In an implantable cardioverter/defibrillator of the type comprising a plurality of components including a relatively bulky high voltage battery, at least one high voltage capacitor, and circuitry powered by a low voltage power source for detecting a tachyarrhythmia, charging the high voltage capacitor, and discharging the high voltage capacitor to provide a cardioversion/defibrillation shock, the improvement comprising:
- a first hermetically sealed housing supporting a first cardioversion/defibrillation electrode adapted to be implanted at a first subcutaneous implantation site about the patient'"'"'s thorax directing the first cardioversion/defibrillation electrode toward the patient'"'"'s heart;
a second hermetically sealed housing supporting a second cardioversion/defibrillation electrode adapted to be implanted at a second subcutaneous implantation site about the patient'"'"'s thorax directing the second cardioversion/defibrillation electrode toward the patient'"'"'s heart, whereby the heart is disposed substantially between the first and second cardioversion/defibrillation electrodes; and
an electrical cable having a plurality of conductors tethering the first and second hermetically sealed housings together,wherein the components of the ICD are distributed between the first and second hermetically sealed housings, and conductors of the electrical cable interconnect the components to enable generation and delivery of cardioversion/defibrillation shocks between the first and second cardioversion/defibrillation electrodes and across the patient'"'"'s heart.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) are disclosed that are entirely implantable subcutaneously with minimal surgical intrusion into the body of the patient and provide distributed cardioversion/defibrillation and pace/sense electrodes for delivery of cardioversion/defibrillation shock and pacing therapies across the heart when necessary. At least two hermetically sealed housings forming first and second hermetically sealed housings coupled together by a cable support first, second and, optionally, third cardioversion/defibrillation electrodes. The relatively bulky high voltage battery and high voltage capacitors, and circuitry powered by a low voltage power source for detecting a tachyarrhythmia, charging the high voltage capacitor, and discharging the high voltage capacitor to provide a cardioversion/defibrillation shock are distributed between the first and second hermetically sealed housings.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. In an implantable cardioverter/defibrillator of the type comprising a plurality of components including a relatively bulky high voltage battery, at least one high voltage capacitor, and circuitry powered by a low voltage power source for detecting a tachyarrhythmia, charging the high voltage capacitor, and discharging the high voltage capacitor to provide a cardioversion/defibrillation shock, the improvement comprising:
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a first hermetically sealed housing supporting a first cardioversion/defibrillation electrode adapted to be implanted at a first subcutaneous implantation site about the patient'"'"'s thorax directing the first cardioversion/defibrillation electrode toward the patient'"'"'s heart; a second hermetically sealed housing supporting a second cardioversion/defibrillation electrode adapted to be implanted at a second subcutaneous implantation site about the patient'"'"'s thorax directing the second cardioversion/defibrillation electrode toward the patient'"'"'s heart, whereby the heart is disposed substantially between the first and second cardioversion/defibrillation electrodes; and an electrical cable having a plurality of conductors tethering the first and second hermetically sealed housings together, wherein the components of the ICD are distributed between the first and second hermetically sealed housings, and conductors of the electrical cable interconnect the components to enable generation and delivery of cardioversion/defibrillation shocks between the first and second cardioversion/defibrillation electrodes and across the patient'"'"'s heart. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An implantable cardioverter/defibrillator comprising:
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a first hermetically sealed housing supporting a first cardioversion/defibrillation electrode adapted to be implanted at a first subcutaneous implantation site about the patient'"'"'s thorax directing the first cardioversion/defibrillation electrode toward the patient'"'"'s heart; a second hermetically sealed housing supporting a second cardioversion/defibrillation electrode adapted to be implanted at a second subcutaneous implantation site about the patient'"'"'s thorax directing the second cardioversion/defibrillation electrode toward the patient'"'"'s heart, whereby the heart is disposed substantially between the first and second cardioversion/defibrillation electrodes; a high voltage battery enclosed within the second hermetically sealed housing; cardioversion/defibrillation shock generating means enclosed within the first hermetically sealed housing coupled to the first cardioversion/defibrillation electrode; an electrical cable tethering the first and second hermetically sealed housings together and electrically connecting the high voltage battery and the second cardioversion/defibrillation electrode to the cardioversion/defibrillation shock generating means; and means for triggering generation and delivery of cardioversion/defibrillation shocks between the first and second cardioversion/defibrillation electrodes and across the patient'"'"'s heart. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification