Lead fractures have recently been at the heart of defibrillator problems, including the recall of Medtronic's Sprint Fidelis. A defibrillator under development by Cameron Health Inc. could circumvent this issue. The company's S-ICD system is a minimally invasive, subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) that treats sudden cardiac arrest. Because the ICD is implanted entirely under the skin, a lead doesn't need to be used. According to the company's Web site, the lack of a lead simplifies surgery by eliminating the need for imaging equipment.

A study of the device, published by the New England Journal of Medicine, analyzed two short-term trials in which the S-ICD was implanted in patients. TThe researchers found that the device "successfully and consistently detected and converted episodes of ventricular fibrillation that were induced during electrophysiological testing. It also successfully detected and treated all 12 episodes of spontaneous, sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmia."

There are some limitations to the S-ICD system. For example, it is not appropriate for patients who require both a pacemaker and a defibrillator.