Cardioverter-defibrillator having a focused shocking area and orientation thereof

• US 8,160,699 B2
• Filed: 10/08/2010
• Issued: 04/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cameron Incorporated (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Cameron Incorporated (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Bardy, Gust H., Cappato, Riccardo, Rissmann, William J., Sanders, Gary H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Getzow, Scott
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATTON, AMANDA K
• Application Number:
  US12/901,333
• Publication Number:
  US 20110029032A1
• Time in Patent Office: 557 Days
• Field of Search: 607/5, 128/898
• US Class Current: 607/5
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/375 Constructional arrangements, e.g. casings
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37512 Pacemakers
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37518 Anchoring of the implants, e.g. fixation
• 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 1/3956 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

One embodiment of the present invention provides an implantable cardioverter defibrillator for subcutaneous positioning between the third rib and the twelfth rib within a patient, the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator including a housing; an electrical circuit located within the housing; a first electrode coupled to the electrical circuit and located on the housing; and a second electrode coupled to the electrical circuit.

Claims

1. A method of implanting a defibrillator, comprising:

making an incision at approximately the 5th-6th intercostal spaces on the left side of a patient'"'"'s torso;

tunneling beneath the skin from the incision to a left parasternal location to create a tunneled subcutaneous space; and

implanting an elongated housing having a first end with a first electrode and a second end with a second electrode, the housing defining first and second curvatures, with a first generally planar curvature near the first end and a second non-planar curvature near the second end such that the housing generally conforms to the shape of the patient'"'"'s ribcage, through the incision into the tunneled subcutaneous space so that the first end of the housing is at the left parasternal location and the second end of the housing reaches a region beneath the left arm of the patient.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the housing has a width in the range of about 3-10 cm.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the housing is generally rectangular.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the first and second ends of the housing are rounded in generally circular arcs.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the first end of the housing is rounded in a generally circular arc, and the second end of the housing is generally square.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the housing is generally rectangular.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second ends are rounded in generally circular arcs.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first end is rounded in a generally circular arc, and the second end is generally square.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the implantable defibrillator comprises a physiological sensor.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the physiological sensor is configured to monitor the patient'"'"'s blood glucose level.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the physiological sensor is configured to monitor the patient'"'"'s respiration.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the physiological sensor is configured to monitor the patient'"'"'s blood pressure.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the physiological sensor is configured to monitor the patient'"'"'s cardiac output.