Methods for inducing fibrillation utilizing subcutaneous electrodes

• US 7,181,274 B2
• Filed: 11/09/2004
• Issued: 02/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cameron Incorporated (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Cameron Incorporated (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Rissmann, William J., Bardy, Gust H., Cappato, Riccardo
• Primary Examiner(s): DROESCH, KRISTEN L
• Application Number:
  US10/984,392
• Publication Number:
  US 20050137625A1
• Time in Patent Office: 833 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 607/5
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/375 Constructional arrangements, e.g. casings
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3756 Casings with electrodes thereon, e.g. leadless stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/378 Electrical supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3906 characterised by the form of the shockwave
• 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 power supply for an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator for subcutaneous positioning between the third rib and the twelfth rib and for providing cardioversion/defibrillation energy to the heart, the power supply comprising a capacitor subsystem for storing the cardioversion/defibrillation energy for delivery to the patient'"'"'s heart; and a battery subsystem electrically coupled to the capacitor subsystem for providing electrical energy to the capacitor subsystem.

Claims

1. A method of inducing fibrillation in a patient, the method comprising providing a shock to the patient using an implanted first electrode on a lead secured to an implanted canister, the shock being provided between the first electrode and an electrode provided on the implanted canister, wherein the shock is delivered from non-vascular and non-cardiac locations.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the lead and the canister a subcutaneous locations.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising sensing a portion of the patient'"'"'s cardiac signal, and delivering the shock at a time selected for its likelihood to induce fibrillation.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of sensing a portion of the patient'"'"'s cardiac signal is performed using a second electrode on the lead.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the canister at the patient'"'"'s left axillary line.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising sensing a portion of the patient'"'"'s cardiac signal, and delivering the shock at a time selected for its likelihood to induce fibrillation.

7. A method of inducing fibrillation of a patient'"'"'s heart, the method comprising:

providing a subcutaneous electrical device disposed exclusive of the patient'"'"'s heart;

providing a lead assembly attached to the subcutaneous electrical device such that the lead assembly does not contact the patient'"'"'s heart; and

applying an electrical signal using the subcutaneous electrical device and the lead assembly to induce ventricular fibrillation of the patient'"'"'s heart;

wherein;

the lead assembly includes a first electrode;

the subcutaneous electrical device includes a housing having a second electrode disposed thereon; and

the step of applying an electrical signal includes providing an electrical signal between the first electrode and the second electrode.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising sensing a portion of the patient'"'"'s heart rhythm using at least one sensing electrode making up part of the lead assembly.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the electrical signal is applied for an entire cardiac cycle of the patient'"'"'s hearth.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein:

the lead assembly includes a third electrode; and

the method further includes the step of sensing a portion of the patient'"'"'s heart rhythm using the first electrode and the third electrode as sensing electrodes.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

sensing a portion of the patient'"'"'s heart rhythm; and

determining when to apply the electrical signal using data gathered during the sensing step.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the determining step is performed by observing the timing of a T-wave in the patient'"'"'s heart rhythm.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the determining step is performed by estimating the occurrence of a T-wave in the patient'"'"'s heart rhythm.

14. A method of treating a patient susceptible to abnormal cardiac function, the method comprising:

providing an implantable stimulus device in a patient, the implantable stimulus device including a power source and an energy storage system;

providing a lead system for the stimulus device;

implanting the lead system into the patient such tat the lead system does not contact the hearth;

sensing a portion of the patient'"'"'s cardiac rhythm;

coupling the power source to the energy storage system to charge the energy storage system; and

discharging the energy storage system using the lead system to induce fibrillation in the patient'"'"'s heart;

wherein the implantable stimulus device includes a first electrode disposed thereon, and the lead system includes a second electrode, wherein the step of discharging the energy storage system include discharging energy between the first electrode and the second electrode.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising, after discharging the energy system, sensing signals generated by the patient'"'"'s heart to determine whether fibrillation has been induced.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising, if fibrillation has been induced, the steps of:

coupling the power supply to the energy storage system to charge the energy storage system again; and

discharging the energy storage system using the lead system to induce defibrillation.