Remotely powered sensory implant
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An implant, comprising:
- an antenna, which is configured to communicate with an external unit using inductive coupling of a magnetic field;
circuitry, which is configured to produce data for transmission to the external unit, and to receive electrical power from the magnetic field via the antenna for powering the circuitry;
a voltage clamping element, which is coupled to clamp a voltage induced by the magnetic field across the antenna; and
a modulation switch, configured to modulate a load impedance applied to the antenna as a function of the data, so as to transmit the data,wherein the electrical power that powers the circuitry is provided to the circuitry from a connection point between the modulation switch and the voltage clamping element, such that the circuitry is disconnected from the antenna while the modulation switch is open.
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Abstract
An implant (110) includes an antenna unit (130) and an encapsulation. The antenna unit includes an elongated ferrite core (142) having a first length and an antenna coil (146) wound around the ferrite core, and is configured to communicate with an external unit (120) using inductive coupling of a magnetic field. The encapsulation encapsulates the antenna unit, and includes one or more openings (134) that are aligned with the ferrite core and have respective second lengths that are equal to or greater than the first length of the ferrite core.
171 Citations
13 Claims
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1. An implant, comprising:
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an antenna, which is configured to communicate with an external unit using inductive coupling of a magnetic field; circuitry, which is configured to produce data for transmission to the external unit, and to receive electrical power from the magnetic field via the antenna for powering the circuitry; a voltage clamping element, which is coupled to clamp a voltage induced by the magnetic field across the antenna; and a modulation switch, configured to modulate a load impedance applied to the antenna as a function of the data, so as to transmit the data, wherein the electrical power that powers the circuitry is provided to the circuitry from a connection point between the modulation switch and the voltage clamping element, such that the circuitry is disconnected from the antenna while the modulation switch is open. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for operating an implant, the method comprising:
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producing, using circuitry in the implant, data for transmission to an external unit, and modulating a load impedance applied to an antenna using a modulation switch as a function of the data so as to transmit the data to the external unit using inductive coupling of a magnetic field; receiving via the antenna electrical power from the magnetic field for powering the circuitry; and using a voltage clamping element, clamping a voltage induced by the magnetic field across the antenna, wherein the electrical power that powers the circuitry is provided to the circuitry from a connection point between the modulation switch and the voltage clamping element, such that the circuitry is disconnected from the antenna while the modulation switch is open. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification