Patent ID: 7720536

Claim:
A method of treating a patient comprising: providing an implantable cardiac stimulus system comprising operational circuitry for detecting and analyzing cardiac function and outputting cardiac stimulus, and a housing that contains the operational circuitry, attached to a lead; implanting the cardiac stimulus system into a patient by establishing a subcutaneous space for receiving the cardiac stimulus system and inserting the cardiac stimulus system into the subcutaneous space without introducing a transvenous lead for association with the operational circuitry such that all components are disposed between the skin and the ribcage of the patient by placing the housing at the left posterior axillary line and the lead in the inframammary crease, ending in the anterior precordial region of the patient; detecting and analyzing cardiac function to determine whether cardiac stimulus is indicated; and if cardiac stimulus is indicated, delivering cardioversion/defibrillation energy using the operational circuitry.