Pulsed electric field ablation for implantable medical devices

Abstract

Implantable medical device including a pulsed-voltage generator and one or more implantable electrical leads. In one example, the implantable medical device supports the defibrillator and ablation modalities characterized by different respective sets of waveform parameters, such as the pulse amplitude and width. In some examples, the implantable medical device also supports a pacing modality. The electrodes used for the different modalities are variously selected from a plurality of electrodes located in distal portions of the implantable electrical leads and on the exterior surface of the implantable device box. An electronic controller of the implantable medical device is wirelessly programmable to appropriately control, e.g., in a patient-specific manner, operations of the pulsed-voltage generator and transitions between different modalities. Various examples of the disclosed implantable medical device can beneficially be used to provide to a cardiac patient a greater variety of treatment options without having to replace the implantable medical device.