Lead system for use with an atrial defibrillator and method

A method of monitoring activity of the heart of a patient and delivering cardioverting electrical energy to the atria of the heart of the patient, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing storage means for storing electrical energy;
• implanting said storage means beneath the skin of the patient;
• providing lead means including first lead having first and second electrodes and a second lead including first and second sensing electrodes;
• implanting said lead means beneath the skin of the patient including steps of disposing said first electrode within the right atrium of the heart, disposing said second electrode within the coronary sinus beneath the left atrium of the heart, and disposing said first and second sensing electrodes within the right ventricle of the heart;
• coupling said first and second electrodes to said storage means;
• sensing atrial activity of the heart between said first and second electrodes;
• sensing electrical activations of the heart between said first and second sensing electrodes;
• storing said electrical energy in said storage means;
• and
• applying, through said first lead, at least a portion of said stored electrical energy between said first and second electrodes to deliver said cardioverting electrical energy to the atria of the heart.

An implantable device for monitoring activity of the heart and delivering cardioverting electrical energy to the atria of the heart, said device comprising:

• storage means for storing said electrical energy;
• atrial activity sensing means for sensing atrial activity of the heart;
• electrical activation sensing means for sensing electrical activations of the heart;
• and
• lead means including a first electrode, a second electrode, a first sensing electrode, and a second sensing electrode for disposing said first electrode within the right atrium of the heart, for disposing said second electrode within the coronary sinus beneath the left atrium of the heart, and for disposing said first and second sensing electrodes within the right ventricle of the heart;
• said first and second electrodes being coupled to said storage means for delivering said cardioverting electrical energy to the atria of the heart and to said atrial activity sensing means for sensing atrial activity of the heart;
• said first and second sensing electrodes being coupled to said electrical activation sensing means for sensing electrical activations of the heart between said first and second sensing electrodes,
• said second electrode and a selected one of said first and second sensing electrodes being coupled to said electrical activation sensing means for sensing electrical activations of the heart between said second electrode and said selected one of said first and second sensing electrodes, and
• said lead means being fully implantable beneath the skin of a patient.