Flexible subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator
First Claim
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1. An implantable cardioverter/defibrillator of the type including a plurality of components, the implantable cardioverter/defibrillator comprising:
- a battery, a capacitor, and circuitry connected thereto, the circuitry being configured for detecting an abnormal heart rhythm, charging the capacitor, and discharging the capacitor to provide a cardioversion/defibrillation shock;
a first structural portion supporting a first cardioversion/defibrillation electrode adapted to be implanted at a first subcutaneous implantation site about the patient'"'"'s thorax and adapted to direct the first cardioversion/defibrillation electrode toward the patient'"'"'s heart;
a second structural portion supporting a second cardioversion/defibrillation electrode adapted to be implanted at a second subcutaneous implantation site about the patient'"'"'s thorax and adapted to direct the second cardioversion/defibrillation electrode toward the patient'"'"'s heart; and
a connecting structure including one or more conductors connecting the first and second structural portions together,wherein the components of the implantable cardioverter/defibrillator are distributed between the first and second structural portions, and the one or more conductors of the connecting structure interconnect the plurality of components to enable generation and delivery of cardioversion/defibrillation shocks between the first and second cardioversion/defibrillation electrodes.
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Abstract
One embodiment of the present invention provides an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator for subcutaneous positioning over a patient'"'"'s ribcage, the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator including a housing, wherein the housing conforms to the patient'"'"'s ribcage when subcutaneously positioned; an electrode disposed upon a portion of the housing; and an electrical circuit located within the housing, wherein the electrical circuit is electrically coupled to the electrode.
111 Citations
29 Claims
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1. An implantable cardioverter/defibrillator of the type including a plurality of components, the implantable cardioverter/defibrillator comprising:
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a battery, a capacitor, and circuitry connected thereto, the circuitry being configured for detecting an abnormal heart rhythm, charging the capacitor, and discharging the capacitor to provide a cardioversion/defibrillation shock; a first structural portion supporting a first cardioversion/defibrillation electrode adapted to be implanted at a first subcutaneous implantation site about the patient'"'"'s thorax and adapted to direct the first cardioversion/defibrillation electrode toward the patient'"'"'s heart; a second structural portion supporting a second cardioversion/defibrillation electrode adapted to be implanted at a second subcutaneous implantation site about the patient'"'"'s thorax and adapted to direct the second cardioversion/defibrillation electrode toward the patient'"'"'s heart; and a connecting structure including one or more conductors connecting the first and second structural portions together, wherein the components of the implantable cardioverter/defibrillator are distributed between the first and second structural portions, and the one or more conductors of the connecting structure interconnect the plurality of components to enable generation and delivery of cardioversion/defibrillation shocks between the first and second cardioversion/defibrillation electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An implantable cardioverter/defibrillator comprising:
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a first structure supporting a first cardioversion/defibrillation electrode adapted to be implanted at a first subcutaneous implantation site about the patient'"'"'s thorax and adapted to direct the first cardioversion/defibrillation electrode toward the patient'"'"'s heart; a second structure supporting a second cardioversion/defibrillation electrode adapted to be implanted at a second subcutaneous implantation site about the patient'"'"'s thorax and adapted to direct the second cardioversion/defibrillation electrode toward the patient'"'"'s heart, a connection structure connecting the first and second structures together; cardioversion/defibrillation shock generating means enclosed within the first or second structure and coupled to the first and second cardioversion/defibrillation electrodes; a battery enclosed within the first or second structure and coupled 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; wherein the first and second structures and the connection structure are adapted to allow placement within a patient'"'"'s body such that the patient'"'"'s heart can be disposed substantially between the first and second cardioversion/defibrillation electrodes; wherein the first structure is a first canister section and the second structure is a second canister section. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An implantable cardioverter/defibrillator comprising:
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a first structure supporting a first cardioversion/defibrillation electrode adapted to be implanted at a first subcutaneous implantation site about the patient'"'"'s thorax and adapted to direct the first cardioversion/defibrillation electrode toward the patient'"'"'s heart; a second structure supporting a second cardioversion/defibrillation electrode adapted to be implanted at a second subcutaneous implantation site about the patient'"'"'s thorax and adapted to direct the second cardioversion/defibrillation electrode toward the patient'"'"'s heart, a connection structure connecting the first and second structures together; cardioversion/defibrillation shock generating means enclosed within the first or second structure and coupled to the first and second cardioversion/defibrillation electrodes; a battery enclosed within the first or second structure and coupled 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; wherein the first structure is a first housing segment and the second structure is a second housing; and the first and second structures and the connection structure are adapted to allow placement within a patient'"'"'s body such that the patient'"'"'s heart can be disposed substantially between the first and second cardioversion/defibrillation electrodes.
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25. A method of implanting an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator within a patient, the method comprising:
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providing a cardioverter-defibrillator comprising a battery, one or more power capacitors, and control circuitry coupled thereto, as well as a first structural portion, a second structural portion and a connecting structure interconnecting the first and second structural portions, wherein the battery, one or more power capacitors, and control circuitry are distributed among the first and second structural portions, and each of the first and second structural portions includes a defibrillation electrode disposed thereon; making a surgical incision into subcutaneous space between the patient'"'"'s skin and ribcage; inserting the first structural portion through the incision and advancing the first structural portion subcutaneously to a first subcutaneous implantation site; inserting the second structural portion through the incision and advancing the second structural portion subcutaneously to a second subcutaneous implantation site spaced from the first subcutaneous implantation site so that the connecting structure is disposed subcutaneously between the first and second structural portions and the heart is disposed between the first and second defibrillation electrodes; and closing the incision. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification