Implanted cardiac device for defibrillation

Abstract

An implantable medical device for delivering electrical cardiac therapy includes a first implantable housing containing a battery. There is also a second implantable housing separate from the first implantable housing and containing at least one of: electronic circuitry adapted to evaluate and initiate electrical cardiac therapy, a storage capacitor and an electrode structure comprising a sensing electrode, a pacing electrode and a therapy electrode. There is a method of providing electrical cardiac therapy by implanting a first housing containing a battery into a first implantation site within the body. Then, implant a second housing separate from the first housing into a second implantation site within the body. The second housing contains at least one of: electronic circuitry adapted to evaluate and initiate electrical cardiac therapy; a storage capacitor and an electrode structure comprising a sensing electrode, a pacing electrode and a therapy electrode.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An implantable medical device for delivering electrical cardiac therapy, comprising:
 a first implantable housing containing a battery;   a second implantable housing separate from the first implantable housing and containing at least one of: electronic circuitry adapted to evaluate and initiate electrical cardiac therapy, a storage capacitor and an electrode structure comprising a sensing electrode, a pacing electrode and a therapy electrode, wherein the electronic circuitry, the storage capacitor or the electrode structure is electrically connected to the battery.   
     
     
         2 . The implantable medical device for delivering electrical cardiac therapy according to  claim 1  wherein the second implantable housing contains at least two of:
 electronic circuitry adapted to evaluate and initiate electrical cardiac therapy, a storage capacitor and an electrode structure comprising a sensing electrode, a pacing electrode and a therapy electrode. 
 
     
     
         3 . The implantable medical device for delivering electrical cardiac therapy according to  claim 1  wherein the second implantable housing contains all of:
 electronic circuitry adapted to evaluate and initiate electrical cardiac therapy, a storage capacitor and an electrode structure comprising a sensing electrode, a pacing electrode and a therapy electrode. 
 
     
     
         4 . The implantable medical device for delivering electrical cardiac therapy according to  claim 1  wherein the second housing has a stowed condition for delivery to an implantation location and a deployed condition for operation in an implantation location. 
     
     
         5 . The implantable medical device for delivering electrical cardiac therapy according to  claim 4  wherein the second housing is adapted for delivery to an implantation location using a hollowed cannula while in the stowed condition. 
     
     
         6 . A method of providing electrical cardiac therapy, comprising:
 implanting a first housing containing a battery into a first implantation site within the body; and   implanting a second housing separate from the first housing into a second implantation site within the body, the second housing containing at least one of:   electronic circuitry adapted to evaluate and initiate electrical cardiac therapy, a storage capacitor and an electrode structure comprising a sensing electrode, a pacing electrode and a therapy electrode, wherein the electronic circuitry, the storage capacitor or the electrode structure is electrically connected to the battery.   
     
     
         7 . The method of providing electrical cardiac therapy according to  claim 6  wherein the second implantation site is subcutaneous, within the vasculature, or within the pericardial space. 
     
     
         8 . The method of providing electrical cardiac therapy according to  claim 6  wherein the first implantation site is closer to the surface of the skin than the second implantation site. 
     
     
         9 . The method of providing electrical cardiac therapy according to  claim 6  wherein the electrode structure is in contact with the epicardium. 
     
     
         10 . The method of providing electrical cardiac therapy according to  claim 6  further comprising the step of;
 using a hollowed cannula to access the second implantation site before the implanting the second housing step.