Patent ID: 6856835

Claim:
A method of treating an abnormal cardiac rhythm comprising: providing an implantable stimulus device in a patient, the implantable stimulus device including a power source and an energy storage system; providing a lead system for the stimulus device, the step of providing the lead system including a process resulting in implantation of the leads only to areas that are exclusive of the patient's heart; sensing an event in the patient's cardiac rhythm; coupling the power source to the energy storage system to transfer energy to the energy storage system; storing energy in the energy storage system; and discharging the energy from the energy storage system using the lead system to a subcutaneous volume of the patient; wherein the lead system includes a first electrode and the implantable stimulus device includes a second electrode on a housing thereof, wherein the steps of providing the stimulus device and providing the lead assembly are performed such that a straight line drawn from the first electrode to the second electrode would intersect a portion of the heart, and the step of discharging energy from the energy storage system includes discharging energy between the first electrode and the second electrode.