Far-field short-range radio-frequency antenna on the side of an implantable medical device case
First Claim
1. An implantable medical device, comprising:
- a conductive case comprising electronic circuitry inside the case, wherein the case comprises a planar side;
a header affixed to the case, wherein the header comprises at least one lead connector configured to receive an electrode lead;
a short-range far-field Radio-Frequency (RF) data antenna outside of the case, wherein the data antenna is proximate to and planar with the planar side of the case; and
a dielectric overcoat over the data antenna outside of the case,wherein the dielectric overcoat and the header are contiguous and formed of the same material.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An Implantable Medical Device (IMD) is disclosed having a bi-directional short-range far-field Radio-Frequency (RF) data antenna, operable in accordance with a short-range RF standard such as Bluetooth for example. The antenna is neither located inside the conductive case of the IMD, nor in the non-conductive header of the IMD that includes the lead connectors. Instead, the antenna is outside of the case, proximate to and generally planar with a flat planar side of the case that faces outward of the patient when the IMD is implanted. Dielectric materials keep the antenna from shorting to the case and to the patient'"'"'s tissue. Because the antenna is not located within the conductive case, data communications to and from the antenna are less subject to attenuation. Not locating the antenna in the header reserves room for the header'"'"'s lead connectors, thus simplifying IMD design.
51 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An implantable medical device, comprising:
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a conductive case comprising electronic circuitry inside the case, wherein the case comprises a planar side; a header affixed to the case, wherein the header comprises at least one lead connector configured to receive an electrode lead; a short-range far-field Radio-Frequency (RF) data antenna outside of the case, wherein the data antenna is proximate to and planar with the planar side of the case; and a dielectric overcoat over the data antenna outside of the case, wherein the dielectric overcoat and the header are contiguous and formed of the same material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification