Unitary subcutaneous only implantable cardioverter-defibrillator and optional pacer
AssigneeCameron Health, Inc.
InventorsGust H. Bardy, Riccardo Cappato
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A unitary subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator is disclosed which has a long thin housing in the shape of a patient's rib. The housing contains a source of electrical energy, a capacitor, and operational circuitry that senses the presence of potentially fatal heart rhythms. Provided on the housing are cardioversion/defibrillation electrodes located to deliver electrical cardioversion-defibrillation energy when the operational circuitry senses a potentially fatal heart rhythm. The unitary subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator does not have a transvenous, intracardiac, epicardial, or subcutaneous electrode.
Claims104
A unitary subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator comprising:
- a long thin housing with first and second ends that is curved in a shape of a patient's rib wherein the housing contains a source of electrical energy, a capacitor, and operational circuitry that senses the presence of potentially fatal heart rhythms;
- cardioversion/defibrillation electrodes located at the ends of the housing;
- means for delivering electrical cardioversion-defibrillation energy when the operational circuitry senses a potentially fatal heart rhythm;
- and
- the absence of a transvenous, intracardiac, or epicardial, electrode.
A method of implanting a unitary implantable subcutaneous cardioverter-defibrillator in a patient comprising the steps of;
- making only one skin incision in the thoracic region of the patient;
- inserting a curved introducer through the skin incision to make a subcutaneous path in the thoracic region such that the path terminates subcutaneously at an end location that if a straight line were drawn from the skin incision to the end location, the line would intersect the heart of the patient;
- implanting a unitary subcutaneous cardioverter-defibrillator that has a long thin housing that is curved in a shape of a patient's rib;
- and
- closing the skin incision.
A unitary cardioverter-defibrillator for subcutaneous implantation, comprising:
- a canister comprising a biocompatible housing enclosing and containing cardioversion-defibrillation circuitry, said housing having a downward taper continuously formed along at least one exterior periphery of the biocompatible housing;
- and
- a pair of electrodes formed on opposite ends of the biocompatible housing and electrically interfaced to the cardioversion-defibrillation circuitry to deliver an electrical therapy to the heart of a patient.
A unitary cardioverter-defibrillator for subcutaneous implantation, comprising:
- a canister comprising a biocompatible housing enclosing and containing cardioversion-defibrillation circuitry;
- and
- a pair of electrodes formed on opposite ends of the biocompatible housing and electrically interfaced to the cardioversion-defibrillation circuitry to deliver an electrical therapy to the heart of a patient;
- wherein said canister has two ends, one end being a thicker end within which the cardioversion-defibrillation circuitry is contained.
A unitary cardioverter-defibrillator for subcutaneous implantation, comprising:
- a canister comprising a biocompatible housing enclosing and containing cardioversion-defibrillation circuitry;
- and
- a pair of electrodes formed on opposite ends of the biocompatible housing and electrically interfaced to the cardioversion-defibrillation circuitry to deliver an electrical therapy to the heart of a patient;
- wherein the biocompatible housing has one of several incremental sizes.
A unitary cardioverter-defibrillator for subcutaneous implantation, comprising:
- a canister comprising a biocompatible housing enclosing and containing cardioversion-defibrillation circuitry;
- and
- a pair of electrodes formed on opposite ends of the biocompatible housing and electrically interfaced to the cardioversion-defibrillation circuitry to deliver an electrical therapy to the heart of a patient;
- wherein the biocompatible housing is shaped conformal to the rib cage.
A unitary cardioverter-defibrillator for subcutaneous implantation, comprising:
- a canister comprising a biocompatible housing enclosing and containing cardioversion-defibrillation circuitry;
- and
- a pair of electrodes formed on opposite ends of the biocompatible housing and electrically interfaced to the cardioversion-defibrillation circuitry to deliver an electrical therapy to the heart of a patient;
- wherein the biocompatible housing is further formed conformal to at least one of the fourth, fifth and sixth anterior rib spaces of a patient.
A unitary subcutaneous cardioverter-defibrillator with electrically active canister for minimally invasive implantation, comprising:
- a subcutaneously implantable canister comprising a sterilizable biocompatible housing enclosing and containing cardioversion-defibrillation circuitry interfaceable through the biocompatible housing, the biocompatible housing formed into a partially curved surface along a longitudinal axis, with a downward taper continuously formed along an exterior periphery of the biocompatible housing, and a pair of semi-converging tapers continuously formed about opposite sides of the downward taper;
- and
- a pair of electrodes formed on opposite and facing ends of the biocompatible housing and electrically interfaced via one or more internal conductors to the cardioversion-defibrillation circuitry to deliver an electrical therapy to the heart of a patient therebetween.
A unitary subcutaneous cardioverter-defibrillator with electrically active canister for minimally invasive implantation, comprising:
- a subcutaneously implantable canister comprising a sterilizable biocompatible housing enclosing and containing cardioversion-defibrillation circuitry interfaceable through the biocompatible housing, the biocompatible housing formed into a partially curved surface along a longitudinal axis;
- and
- a pair of electrodes formed on opposite and facing ends of the biocompatible housing and electrically interfaced via one or more internal conductors to the cardioversion-defibrillation circuitry to deliver an electrical therapy to the heart of a patient therebetween;
- wherein a thicker end is defined on one end of the canister, said thicker end being sized to contain the cardioversion-defibrillation circuitry exclusive of the remainder of the canister.
A unitary subcutaneous cardioverter-defibrillator with electrically active canister for minimally invasive implantation, comprising:
- a subcutaneously implantable canister comprising a sterilizable biocompatible housing enclosing and containing cardioversion-defibrillation circuitry interfaceable through the biocompatible housing, the biocompatible housing formed into a partially curved surface along a longitudinal axis;
- and
- a pair of electrodes formed on opposite and facing ends of the biocompatible housing and electrically interfaced via one or more internal conductors to the cardioversion-defibrillation circuitry to deliver an electrical therapy to the heart of a patient therebetween;
- further comprising:
- a removable core member containing the operational circuitry separate from the biocompatible housing and providing a plurality of electronic connectors;
- and
- the biocompatible housing operationally disposed to receive the core operational member via a plurality of matching electronic connectors.
A unitary cardioversion-defibrillation device with electrically conductive housing means for subcutaneous implantation, comprising:
- means for housing and hermetically containing cardioversion-defibrillation circuitry, the housing means defining a curved and substantially electrically insulated outer surface, with a downward taper continuously formed along an exterior periphery of the housing means, and a pair of semi-converging tapers continuously formed about opposite sides of the downward taper;
- and
- means for delivering an electrical therapy from opposite and facing ends of the housing means responsive to an autonomously detected arrhythmic condition, the electrical therapy delivering means being electrically connected via one or more internal conductors to the cardioversion-defibrillation circuitry.
An implantable unitary subcutaneous cardioverter-defibrillator with electrically active canister, comprising:
- an implantable canister providing a curved housing enclosing and containing cardioversion-defibrillation circuitry;
- a pair of electrodes formed on opposite and facing ends of the housing and electrically interfaced via one or more conductors to the cardioversion-defibrillation circuitry to deliver an electrical therapy to the heart of a patient responsive to an autonomously detected arrhythmic condition;
- and
- a removable core operational member containing the cardioversion-defibrillation circuitry separate and interchangeably from the housing and providing a plurality of connectors, the housing being operationally disposed to receive the core operational member via a plurality of matching connectors.
An implantable unitary subcutaneous cardioverter-defibrillator with electrically active canister, comprising:
- an implantable canister providing a curved housing enclosing and containing cardioversion-defibrillation circuitry;
- a pair of electrodes formed on opposite and facing ends of the housing and electrically interfaced via one or more conductors to the cardioversion-defibrillator circuitry to deliver an electrical therapy to the heart of a patient responsive to an autonomously detected arrhythmic condition;
- a removable core operational member containing the cardioversion-defibrillation circuitry separate and interchangeably from the housing and providing a plurality of connectors, the housing operationally disposed to receive the core operational member via a plurality of matching connectors.
A method for providing anti-arrhythmia therapy via a unitary subcutaneous cardioverter-defibrillator, comprising:
- implanting a canister comprising a curved biocompatible housing subcutaneously in a patient in the anterior thorax approximately level with the inframammary crease and extending posteriorly towards the left posterior axillary line, the biocompatible housing enclosing and containing cardioversion-defibrillation circuitry and defining a pair of electrodes on the outer surface of the biocompatible housing that faces the heart and electrically connected to the cardioversion-defibrillation circuitry;
- and
- delivering an electrical therapy comprising an anti-arrhythmia waveform to the heart of a patient from the pair of electrodes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.