Subcutaneous defibrillator implantation

• US 8,644,926 B2
• Filed: 02/12/2013
• Issued: 02/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cameron Incorporated (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Cameron Incorporated (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Ostroff, Alan H., Erlinger, Paul J., Bardy, Gust H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wieland, Robert N
• Application Number:
  US13/765,088
• Publication Number:
  US 20130150942A1
• Time in Patent Office: 357 Days
• Field of Search: 607/9, 607/5
• 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. The subcutaneous electrode is configured for therapy delivery in combination with one or both of the housing or a second subcutaneous electrode.

Claims

1. A method of implanting a defibrillator system comprising a canister having a generally square shape with rounded corners, a footprint in the range of 30-50 square centimeters, and a depth in the range of about 1.2 centimeters, and a first lead having a therapy electrode for delivering therapy to the patient, the therapy electrode having a length in the range of 2-10 centimeters and a diameter in the range of 1-5 millimeters, the method comprising:

implanting the canister along the patient'"'"'s left side under the arm;

implanting the first lead subcutaneously over the ribs of the patient such that the therapy electrode is generally parallel to the patient'"'"'s sternum; and

coupling the lead to the canister;

wherein both the canister and the lead electrode assembly are implanted on the anterior chest of the patient.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising completing the surgical implantation without using fluoroscopy.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the defibrillator consists of the canister that is implanted along the patient'"'"'s left side under the arm and the first lead including the therapy electrode, and no other implantable canister or lead.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the therapy electrode is a coil electrode.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of implanting the first lead subcutaneously is performed such that the therapy delivery electrode, once implanted, is on the left side of the patient'"'"'s sternum.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of implanting the first lead subcutaneously is performed such that the therapy delivery electrode, once implanted, is on the right side of the patient'"'"'s sternum.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the canister is configured for coupling to both the first lead and a second lead.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising implanting the second lead subcutaneously over the ribcage of the patient and coupling the second lead to the canister.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein all components of the defibrillator are implanted only subcutaneously.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the implantable defibrillator system consists of the implantable canister, the first lead, and the second lead, and the method does not include any further implanting steps.

11. A method of implanting a defibrillator system comprising a canister having a generally oval shape, a footprint in the range of 30-50 square centimeters, and a depth in the range of about 1.2 centimeters, and a first lead having a therapy electrode for delivering therapy to the patient, the therapy electrode having a length in the range of 2-10 centimeters and a diameter in the range of 1-5 millimeters, the method comprising:

implanting the canister along the patient'"'"'s left side under the arm;

implanting the first lead subcutaneously over the ribs of the patient such that the therapy electrode is generally parallel to and on the left side of the patient'"'"'s sternum; and

coupling the lead to the canister;

wherein both the canister and the lead electrode assembly are implanted on the anterior chest of the patient.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising completing the surgical implantation without using fluoroscopy.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the defibrillator consists of the canister that is implanted along the patient'"'"'s left side under the arm and the first lead including the therapy electrode, and no other implantable canister or lead.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein all components of the defibrillator are implanted only subcutaneously.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the therapy electrode is a coil electrode.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of implanting the first lead subcutaneously is performed such that the therapy delivery electrode, once implanted, is on the left side of the patient'"'"'s sternum.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of implanting the first lead subcutaneously is performed such that the therapy delivery electrode, once implanted, is on the right side of the patient'"'"'s sternum.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein the canister is configured for coupling to both the first lead and a second lead.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising implanting the second lead subcutaneously over the ribcage of the patient and coupling the second lead to the canister.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the implantable defibrillator system consists of the implantable canister, the first lead, and the second lead, and the method does not include any further implanting steps.