Portable cardiac defibrillators with subcutaneous electrodes and associated systems and methods

A portable external cardiac defibrillator system for treating a human patient, the cardiac defibrillator system comprising:

• a first electrode;
• a second electrode, wherein the first and second electrodes are configured to be external to the human patient and implanted subcutaneously in the human patient during a cardiac emergency;
• and
• an electrical pulse generator external to the human patient and operably coupled to the first and second electrodes, wherein the electrical pulse generator is configured to deliver an electrical shock to the human patient via the first and second electrodes while the first and second electrodes are subcutaneously implanted to provide internal defibrillation to the human patient.

A portable external cardiac defibrillator system, comprising:

• a portable case configured to be carried externally by a user;
• a first lead coupled to the case and having a first active end portion, wherein the first active end portion is configured to be implanted at a first subcutaneous position in a human patient;
• a second lead coupled to the case and having a second active end portion, wherein the second active end portion is configured to be implanted at a second subcutaneous position in the human patient, wherein the first and second subcutaneous positions are proximate to a heart of the human patient;
• and
• a pulse generator module housed within the case, wherein the pulse generator is configured to be electrically coupled to the first and second electrical leads and positioned external to the human patient, and wherein the first and second leads are configured to deliver a therapeutic dose of electrical energy to the heart of the human patient to achieve internal defibrillation.

A method of defibrillating a human patient, comprising:

• positioning a distal portion of a first lead subcutaneously at a first target site proximate to an upper sternum of the human patient;
• positioning a distal portion of a second lead subcutaneously at a second target site between intercostal spaces of the human patient;
• and
• delivering a therapeutic dose of electrical energy to a heart of the human patient with a portable pulse generator operably coupled to the first and second leads, wherein the pulse generator is connected to the first and second leads external to the human patient.