Implantable intravenous cardiac stimulation system with pulse generator housing serving as optional additional electrode

Claim 2

The implantable heart treatment system of claim 1, and further including a third electrode implanted on or about the heart and connected to said switching means for sensing at least said first and second conditions of the heart.

Claim 3

The implantable heart treatment system of claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one of said first and second electrodes has sensing capabilities and is connected to said switching means for sensing at least said first and second conditions of the heart.

Claim 4

The implantable heart treatment system of anyone of the claims 1 to 3, wherein said second condition of the heart is ventricular fibrillation.

Claim 5

The implantable heart treatment system of anyone of the claims 1 to 4, wherein said conductive surface of said pulse generator housing comprises electrically conductive mesh.

Claim 6

An implantable heart treatment system having anti-arrhythmia pacemaking, cardioversion, and defibrillation capabilities for maintaining proper function of the heart, said system comprising: an implantable pulse generator for producing an anti-arrhythmia waveform; a pulse generator housing enclosing and containing said pulse generator, said pulse generator housing comprising a plurality of walls, at least one of said walls having an electrically conductive outer surface connected to said pulse generator, said pulse generator housing being implanted proximate the heart with said electrically conductive surface of said pulse generator housing facing the heart for delivering electrical energy to the heart; a first electrode implanted in or about the heart and electrically connected to said pulse generator; a second electrode implanted in or about the heart and electrically connected to said pulse generator; switching means for directing, on the one hand said anti-arrhythmia waveform to said first and second electrodes upon a first condition of said heart, and on the other hand directing said anti-arrhythmia waveform to said first and second electrodes and to said electrically conductive surface of said pulse generator housing upon a second condition of the heart.

Claim 7

The implantable heart treatment system of claim 6, and further including a third electrode implanted on or about the heart and electrically connected to said switching means for sensing at least said first and second conditions of the heart.

Claim 8

The implantable heart treatment system of claim 6 or 7, wherein at least one of said first and second electrodes has sensing capabilities and is connected to said switching means for sensing at least said first and second conditions of the heart.

Claim 9

The implantable heart treatment system of anyone of the claims 6 to 8, wherein said second condition of the heart is ventricular fibrillation.

Claim 10

The implantable heart treatment system of anyone of the claims 6 to 9, wherein said electrically conductive surface of said pulse generator housing comprises electrically conductive mesh.

Claim 11

An implantable heart treatment system having anti-arrhythmia pacemaking, cardioversion, and defibrillation capabilities for maintaining proper function of the heart, said system comprising: an implantable pulse generator for producing an anti-arrhythmia waveform; a pulse generator housing for enclosing and containing said pulse generator, said pulse generator housing comprising a plurality of walls, at least one of said walls having an electrically conductive outer surface electrically connected to said pulse generator, said pulse generator housing being implanted proximate the heart with said conductive surface facing the heart for delivering electrical energy to the heart; a transvenous lead having a first electrode at a distal end thereof and a second electrode at an intermediate portion thereof, said lead being implanted in the heart so that said first electrode is positioned in the right ventricle and said second electrode is positioned in the vena cava region of the heart, said lead electrically connecting said first and second electrode to said pulse generator; switching means for directing on the one hand, said anti-arrhythmia waveform to said first and second electrodes upon a first condition of the heart, and on the other hand directing said anti-arrhythmia waveform to said first and second electrodes and to said conductive outer surface of said pulse generator housing upon a second condition of the heart.

Claim 12

The implantable heart treatment system of claim 11, and further including a third electrode implanted on or about the heart and electrically connected to said switching means for sensing at least said first and second conditions of the heart.

Claim 13

The implantable heart treatment system of claim 11 or 12, wherein at least one of said first and second electrodes has sensing capabilities and is connected to said switching means for sensing at least said first and second conditions of the heart.

Claim 14

The implantable heart treatment system of anyone of the claims 11 to 13, wherein said second condition of the heart is ventricular fibrillation.

Claim 15

An implantable pulse generator housing for enclosing and containing a pulse generator for connection to at least one cardiac electrode implanted on or about the heart for delivering electrical energy to the heart, said housing comprising: four side walls, a top wall, and a bottom wall, at least one of said walls being electrically conductive and electrically connected to said pulse generator, said housing being implanted proximate the heart with said conductive surface facing the heart to function as a cardiac electrode for delivering electrical energy to the heart.

Claim 16

An implantable heart treatment system having anti-arrhythmia pacemaking, cardioversion, and defibrillation capabilities for maintaining proper function of the heart, said system comprising: an implantable pulse generator means for producing an anti-arrhythmia waveform; a pulse generator housing enclosing and containing said pulse generator means, said pulse generator housing including a conductive surface electrically connected to said pulse generator means for delivering electrical energy to the heart, said housing being implanted proximate the heart; an implanted electrode in or about the heart and being electrically connected to said pulse generator for delivering electrical energy to the heart against said conductive surface of said pulse generator housing.

Claim 17

An implantable heart treatment system having anti-arrhythmia pacemaking, cardioversion, and defibrillation capabilities for maintaining proper function of the heart, said system comprising: an implantable pulse generator for producing an anti-arrhythmia waveform; a pulse generator housing for enclosing and containing said pulse generator, said pulse generator housing comprising a plurality of walls, at least one of said walls having an electrically conductive outer surface electrically connected to said pulse generator, said pulse generator housing being implanted proximate the heart with said conductive surface facing the heart for delivering electrical energy to the heart; a transvenous lead having an electrode along the length of the lead, said lead being implanted in the heart so that said electrode is positioned in the right ventricle, said lead electrically connecting said electrode to said pulse generator for delivering electrical energy to the heart against said conductive surface of said pulse generator housing.

Claim 18

An implantable heart treatment system having anti-arrhythmia pacemaking, cardioversion, and defibrillation capabilities for maintaining proper function of the heart, said system comprising: an implantable pulse generator means for producing an anti-arrhythmia waveform; a pulse generator housing enclosing and containing said pulse generator means, said pulse generator housing including a conductive surface electrically connected to said pulse generator means for delivering electrical energy to the heart, said housing being implanted proximate the heart with said conductive surface facing the heart; a first electrode implanted in or about the heart and being electrically connected to said pulse generator; a second electrode implanted in or about the heart and being electrically connected to said pulse generator; switching means for directing said anti-arrhythmia waveform on the one hand, to at least one of said first and second electrodes and to said conductive surface of said pulse generator housing upon a first condition of said heart, and on the other hand directing said anti-arrhythmia waveform to said first and second electrodes and to said conductive surface of said pulse generator housing upon a second condition of the heart.

Claim 19

An implantable heart treatment system having anti-arrhythmia pacemaking, cardioversion, and defibrillation capabilities for maintaining proper function of the heart, said system comprising: an implantable pulse generator means for producing an anti-arrhythmia waveform; a pulse generator housing enclosing and containing said pulse generator means, said pulse generator housing including a conductive surface electrically connected to said pulse generator means for delivering electrical energy to the heart, said housing being implanted proximate the heart; at least two electrodes implanted in or about the heart and being electrically connected to said pulse generator; and switching means for directing said anti-arrhythmia waveform to said conductive surface of said pulse generator housing and to at least one of said at least two electrodes.