Patent ID: 7167746

Claim:
A method for inhibiting the formation and adherence of blood components on an electrically-conductive blood-contacting portion of an implanted bio-medical device in a human patient, said method comprising: (a) providing an implanted system having: (i) a current generating means; (ii) a first electrode electrically coupled to said current generating means; and (iii) a second electrode electrically coupled to said current generating means; (b) positioning said first electrode subcutaneously at a first position external to the patient's thoracic cavity; (c) positioning said second electrode subcutaneously at a second position external to the patient's thoracic cavity, wherein said second position is spaced from said first position such that the implanted bio-medical device is operably disposed in a thoracic area substantially between said first and second electrodes; and (d) causing said current generating means to generate a current that extends between said first and second electrodes, thereby focusing such current at the blood-contacting portion of said implanted bio-medical device.