Patent ID: 8126546

Claim:
An implantable cardiac stimulation device comprising: a plurality of electrodes adapted to be implanted adjacent the tissue of a heart, wherein at least two of the plurality of electrodes are respectively designated a first cathode and a second cathode, and at least one of the plurality of electrodes is designated an anode; and a controller that induces the delivery of pacing stimuli to the heart via each of the first cathode and the second cathode, wherein each of the stimuli comprises a cathodal pulse sufficient to induce depolarization of the heart tissue adjacent its associated cathode, wherein each of the cathodal pulses induces a current density at the anode, wherein each current density, individually is insufficient to induce depolarization of the heart tissue adjacent the anode, however, the combination of both current densities is sufficient to induce depolarization of the heart tissue adjacent the anode.