Flexible subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator

1. An implantable cardioverter-defibrillator comprising:

a housing including a pliable region including a plurality of pleats defined in the housing, wherein each of the plurality of pleats can expand or contract to allow the housing to increase or decrease its overall length, and a portion of each of the plurality of pleats can individually expand or contract to allow the housing to bend at the pliable region;

an electrode disposed upon a portion of the housing; and

an electrical circuit located within the housing, wherein the electrical circuit is electrically coupled to the electrode.

2. An implantable cardioverter-defibrillator for subcutaneous positioning over a patient's ribeage, the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator comprising:

a housing, wherein the housing includes a first portion and a second portion coupled together by a coupling portion, the coupling portion allowing for movement of the first and second portions relative to one another, wherein the coupling portion of the housing comprises a pleated section having a plurality of individual pleats and wherein the housing conforms to the patient's ribcage when subcutaneously positioned; wherein individual pleats may uniformly expand or contract, allowing the housing to increase or decrease its overall length, and a portion of individual pleats may expand or contract, allowing the housing to bend;

an electrode disposed upon a portion of the housing; and

an electrical circuit located within the housing, wherein the electrical circuit is electrically coupled to the electrode.

3. The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator of claim 2 , wherein the coupling portion of the housing comprises a compliant material.

4. The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator of claim 3 , wherein the compliant material is selected from the group consisting of a polyurethane, a polyainide, a polyetheretherlcetone (PEEK), a polyether block arnide (PEBA), a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), a polyethylene, a silicone, and mixtures thereof.

5. The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator of claim 3 , wherein the compliant material is located between the first portion of the housing and the second portion of the housing.

6. The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator of claim 3 , wherein the electrode is disposed at the first portion of the housing.

7. The implantable cardiovertor-defibrillator of claim 6 , wherein the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator further comprises a second electrode, wherein the second electrode is disposed at the second portion of the housing.

8. The implantable cardioverter-defibriulator of claim 2 , wherein the individual pleats comprise material comprising the housing.

9. The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator of claim 8 , wherein the individual pleats comprise a polymeric material.

10. The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator of claim 8 , wherein the individual pleats comprise stainless steel.

11. The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator of claim 8 , wherein the individual pleats comprise titanium alloy.

12. The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator of claim 2 , wherein the material comprising the first portion of the housing and the second portion of the housing comprises titanium alloy.

13. The implantable cardioverter-defibrilator of claim 2 , wherein the material comprising the first portion of the housing and the second portion of the housing comprises stainless steel alloy.

14. The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator of claim 2 , wherein the material comprising the first portion of the housing and the second portion of the housing comprises ceramic.

15. The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator of claim 2 , wherein the coupling portion comprises a hinge.

16. The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator of claim 2 , wherein the first portion is curved.

17. The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator of claim 2 , wherein the second portion is generally planar.

18. The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator of claim 2 , wherein the second portion is curved.

19. An implantable cardioverter-defibrillator for subcutaneous positioning within a patient, the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator comprising:

a housing having a first portion and a second portion coupled together by a coupling means that allows for movement of the first portion relative to the second portion wherein the coupling means comprises a section of housing forming a plurality of individual pleats, wherein individual pleats may uniformly expand or contract, increasing or decreasing the overall length of the housing, and a portion of individual pleats may expand or contract, allowing the housing to bend at the coupling means;

an electrode disposed upon the first portion of the housing; and

an electrical circuit located within the housing, wherein the electrical circuit is electrically coupled to the electrode.

20. The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator of claim 19 , wherein the coupling means is located between the first portion and the second portion.

21. The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator of claim 19 , wherein the section of the housing forming a plurality of individual pleats comprises polymeric material.

22. The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator of claim 19 , wherein the section of the housing forming a plurality of individual pleats comprises stainless steel.

23. The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator of claim 19 , wherein the section of the housing forming a plurality of individual pleats comprises a titanium alloy.

24. The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator of claim 19 , wherein the coupling means comprises a compliant material disposed between the first portion and the second portion.

25. The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator of claim 19 , wherein the coupling means comprises a hinge disposed between the first portion and the second portion.

26. An implantable cardioverter-defibrillator for subcutaneous positioning within a patient, the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator comprising;

a housing having a plurality of interconnected segments, wherein two of the interconnected segments are interconnected by a coupler such that the two segments are movable relative to one another, wherein the coupler comprises a plurality of individual pleats disposed between the two segments, wherein individual pleats uniformly expand or contract, allowing the housing to increase or decrease its overall length, and a portion of individual pleats expand or contract, allowing the housing to bend;

an electrode disposed upon a portion of the housing; and

an electrical circuit located within the housing, wherein the electrical circuit is electrically coupled to the electrode.

27. The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator of claim 26 , wherein the plurality of interconnected segments comprise titanium alloy.

28. The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator of claim 26 , wherein the plurality of interconnected segments comprise stainless steel alloy.

29. The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator of claim 26 , wherein the plurality of interconnected segments comprise ceramic.

30. The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator of claim 26 , wherein the plurality of interconnected segments comprise a polymeric material.

31. The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator of claim 26 , wherein the coupler comprises a hinge.

32. The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator of claim 26 , wherein at least one of the plurality of interconnected segments is curved.

33. The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator of claim 26 , wherein the plurality of interconnected segments are generally planar.

34. The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator of claim 26 , wherein the coupler comprises a compliant material disposed between the two segments.