Patent ID: 7346392

Claim:
An implantable defibrillation apparatus that detects and monitors spontaneous cardiac electrogram features in a patient, said apparatus comprising: an implantable cardiac defibrillator; a plurality of subcutaneous cardiac sensing electrodes electrically connected to said defibrillator, said sensing electrodes configured for sensing cardiac electrogram features when implanted in spatially separate locations in a patient, said sensing electrodes being sufficiently separated such that each sensing electrode is connected to said defibrillator via a discrete lead portion, wherein one of the subcutaneous electrodes is configured for positioning adjacent the xiphoid process of the patient, and another of the subcutaneous electrodes is configured for positioning adjacent the left axilla of the patient; at least one elongate transveneous catheter flexibly configured for insertion into the heart of the patient, said catheter carrying at least one defibrillation electrode and said catheter connected to said defibrillator; and a detector carried within said defibrillator and operably associated with said sensing electrodes and said at least one defibrillation electrode, said detector configured for detecting the likelihood of a spontaneous cardiac arrhythmia and delivering a treatment pulse through said at least one defibrillation electrode, wherein said defibrillator is configured for implantation in the left pre-pectoral position, wherein said plurality of subcutaneous electrodes are carried by a single elongate lead.