Patent ID: 8135459

Claim:
A method of implanting a cardiac stimulus device into a patient comprising: developing a space for receiving the cardiac stimulus device beneath the skin and over the ribcage of the patient; and inserting a unitary cardiac stimulus device into the developed space; wherein: the unitary cardiac stimulus device comprises power supply, electronics, and electrodes such that, once implantation is complete, each of the power supply, electronics and electrodes are disposed within the developed space between the skin and the ribcage of the patient; the unitary cardiac stimulus device comprises an elongated housing that has an elongated shape that conforms to the shape of one of the patient's ribs once implanted; the unitary cardiac stimulus device lacks any transvenous leads; all of the electrodes of the unitary cardiac stimulus device are disposed on the housing, such that the implantation is completed without inserting any transvenous leads into the patient; and the step of inserting the unitary cardiac stimulus device into the developed space does not include accessing the patient's venous system.