Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) are disclosed that are
entirely implantable subcutaneously with minimal surgical intrusion into
the body of the patient and provide distributed
cardioversion/defibrillation and pace/sense electrodes for delivery of
cardioversion/defibrillation shock and pacing therapies across the heart
when necessary. At least two hermetically sealed housings forming first
and second hermetically sealed housings coupled together by a cable
support first, second and, optionally, third cardioversion/defibrillation
electrodes. The relatively bulky high voltage battery and high voltage
capacitors, and circuitry powered by a low voltage power source for
detecting a tachyarrhythmia, charging the high voltage capacitor, and
discharging the high voltage capacitor to provide a
cardioversion/defibrillation shock are distributed between the first and
second hermetically sealed housings.