Patent ID: 8577454

Claim:
A method of treating a patient comprising: implanting a defibrillator system in the patient including a canister containing operational circuitry for operating the defibrillator system and a lead, the canister and lead each including at least one electrode for use in sensing of cardiac activity and/or therapy delivery, wherein: the lead includes a first end for attachment to the canister and a second end having an anchoring system; the lead is implanted with numerous waves or bends; the lead and canister are implanted subcutaneously on the thorax of the patient over the ribcage of the patient without any part of the defibrillator system entering the patient's vasculature or touching the patient's heart; and the patient is expected to grow and the implantation is performed such that as the patient grows, the waves or bends of the lead will straighten out to maintain proper electrode placement; and the defibrillator system detecting ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation by examining QRS waves of the patient and determining whether the patient's cardiac activity includes a ventricular rate that exceeds a predetermined rate for a first fixed period of time and, if so, the defibrillator system charging a capacitor for therapy delivery and, once the capacitor is charged, the defibrillator system performing a confirmatory rhythm check before discharging the capacitor for therapy delivery, therapy delivery utilizing an electrode of the canister and an electrode of the lead.