Implantable cardioverter defibrillator having a high voltage capacitor

Abstract

The present invention is an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) system that is electrically connected to two or more implantable discharge electrodes for implantation into a human patient for treating cardiac dysrhythmias. The ICD system has a battery system and a stepup transformer for charging a capacitive storage system in response to a cardiac dysrhythmia detected by a sensing system. A plurality of electrodes are provided which are adapted to be implanted into a human patient. A primary capacitive energy storage system is provided and is corrected to the stepup transformer for storing and delivering a high voltage output of at least 1500 volts. A stepdown transformer is also provided which is connected between the primary capacitive energy storage system and the electrodes for reducing the high voltage output of the primary capacitive energy system to a safe level for the heart.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.