Anterior active housing subcutaneous positioning methods

• US 7,835,790 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2006
• Issued: 11/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cameron Health Inc (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cameron Health Inc (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Ostroff, Alan H., Bardy, Gust H., Erlinger, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Manuel; George
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wieland; Robert N
• Application Number:
  US11/555,424
• Publication Number:
  US 20070060960A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,476 Days
• Field of Search: 607/9, 607 4- 8, 607/119, 607/122, 607/142, 607/143, 607/5, 607/9.119, 600/513
• US Class Current: 607/9
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/375 Constructional arrangements, e.g. casings
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37512 Pacemakers
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3756 Casings with electrodes thereon, e.g. leadless stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3906 characterised by the form of the shockwave
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3918 characterised by shock pathway, e.g. by electrode configuration
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3956 Implantable devices for applying electric shocks to the heart, e.g. for cardioversion
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3968 Constructional arrangements, e.g. casings A61N1/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3975 Power supply A61N1/378 takes precedence

Abstract

A subcutaneous cardiac device includes a subcutaneous electrode and a housing coupled to the subcutaneous electrode by a lead with a lead wire. The subcutaneous electrode is adapted to be implanted in a frontal region of the patient so as to overlap a portion of the patient'"'"'s heart.

Claims

1. A method of terminating a cardiac arrhythmia in a patient comprising delivering an electrical stimulus between at least first and second implanted electrodes wherein:

the first implanted electrode is disposed on a lead assembly;

the second implanted electrode is on a housing for an implantable cardioverter defibrillator;

the lead assembly is coupled to the implantable cardioverter defibrillator;

the housing is disposed on the left side of the patient'"'"'s ribcage under the arm; and

the first implanted electrode is subcutaneously disposed at a substantially vertical subcutaneous position generally over the patient'"'"'s heart, adjacent to the sternum.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising sensing cardiac activity in the patient.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first implanted electrode is disposed on the left side of the sternum.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein each implanted electrode used in the delivery of the electrical stimulus is disposed outside of the patient'"'"'s ribcage.

5. A method of terminating a cardiac arrhythmia in a patient comprising delivering an electrical stimulus between at least first and second implanted electrodes wherein:

the first implanted electrode is disposed on a lead assembly;

the second implanted electrode is on a housing for an implantable cardioverter defibrillator;

the lead assembly is coupled to the implantable cardioverter defibrillator;

the housing is disposed at about the left inframammary crease of the patient; and

the first implanted electrode is subcutaneously disposed at a substantially horizontal position generally over the heart of the patient, generally superior to the housing, with both the housing and the first implanted electrode disposed on the left side of the patient'"'"'s chest.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising sensing cardiac activity in the patient.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein each implanted electrode used in delivery of the electrical stimulus is disposed outside of the patient'"'"'s ribcage.

8. A method of terminating a cardiac arrhythmia in a patient comprising delivering an electrical stimulus between at least first and second implanted electrodes wherein:

the first implanted electrode is disposed on a lead assembly;

the second implanted electrode is on a housing for an implantable cardioverter defibrillator;

the lead assembly is coupled to the implantable cardioverter defibrillator;

the first implanted electrode is subcutaneously disposed at a substantially horizontal position over the patient'"'"'s heart on the left side of the patient'"'"'s chest;

the housing is disposed inferior of the patient'"'"'s clavicle on the left side of the patient'"'"'s body; and

the housing is disposed generally superior to the first implanted electrode.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising sensing cardiac activity in the patient.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein each implanted electrode used in the delivery of the electrical stimulus is disposed outside of the patient'"'"'s ribcage.

11. A method of terminating a cardiac arrhythmia in a patient comprising delivering an electrical stimulus between at least first and second implanted electrodes wherein:

the first implanted electrode is disposed on a lead assembly;

the second implanted electrode is on a housing for an implantable cardioverter defibrillator;

the lead assembly is coupled to the implantable cardioverter defibrillator;

the housing is disposed at about the left inframammary crease;

the first implanted electrode is subcutaneously disposed at a substantially vertical subcutaneous position over the heart, adjacent to the sternum; and

the housing is generally inferior to and left of the first implanted electrode.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising sensing cardiac activity in the patient.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the second implanted electrode is disposed on the left side of the sternum.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein each implanted electrode used in the delivery of the electrical stimulus is disposed outside of the patient'"'"'s ribcage.

15. A method of terminating a cardiac arrhythmia in a patient comprising delivering an electrical stimulus between at least first and second implanted electrodes wherein:

the first implanted electrode is disposed on a lead assembly;

the second implanted electrode is on a housing for an implantable cardioverter defibrillator;

the lead assembly is coupled to the implantable cardioverter defibrillator;

the housing is disposed on the left side of the patient'"'"'s ribcage under the arm;

the first implanted electrode is disposed at a substantially horizontal position over the patient'"'"'s heart; and

the housing is generally superior to and left of the first implanted electrode.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising sensing cardiac activity in the patient.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein each implanted electrode used in the delivery of the electrical stimulus is disposed outside of the patient'"'"'s ribcage.