Neurostimulator programmer with internal antenna

• US 20050075691A1
• Filed: 10/24/2003
• Published: 04/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Phillips, William C., Forsberg, John W., Olson, David P., Schommer, Mark E., Lewis, Charles R. Jr., Toy, Alex C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,561,921 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37229 Shape or location of the implanted or external antenna
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37235 Aspects of the external programmer
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37247 User interfaces, e.g. input or presentation means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 Radio telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/904 Telephone telemetry

Abstract

In general, the invention is directed to a patient programmer for an implantable medical device. The patient programmer may include one or more of a variety of features that may enhance performance, support mobility and compactness, or promote patient convenience.

Claims

1. A programmer for a medical device comprising:

an internal antenna mounted within a programmer housing, wherein the internal antenna defines an aperture; and

a battery bay that extends at least partially into the aperture.

2. The programmer of claim 1, wherein the battery bay is oriented such that batteries placed in the battery bay present a load to the internal antenna.

3. The programmer of claim 1, wherein the battery bay is oriented such that batteries placed in the battery bay present a load to enhance noise immunity of the internal antenna to external electromagnetic interference.

4. The programmer of claim 1, wherein the battery bay is sized to accommodate AAA batteries.

5. The programmer of claim 1, further comprising:

a first housing member,

a first circuit board within the first housing member;

a second circuit board disposed over the first circuit board within the first housing member; and

a second housing member disposed over the second circuit board to substantially enclose the first and second circuit boards, wherein the first housing member includes a molded area that defines the battery bay adjacent the first circuit board.

6. The programmer of claim 5, further comprising an access opening in the first housing member to gain access to the battery bay for placement of the batteries.

7. The programmer of claim 5, wherein the internal antenna is displaced from the first circuit board and coupled to the first circuit board via an antenna.

8. The programmer of claim 5, wherein the internal antenna is mounted to the first circuit board on a side of the first circuit board opposite the second circuit board, and a display is mounted to the second circuit board on a side of the second circuit board opposite the first circuit board.

9. The programmer of claim 8, wherein the first circuit board includes telemetry circuitry and the second circuit board includes control circuitry to control the display and the telemetry circuitry, the programmer further comprising an electrical interface between the first and second circuit boards.

11. The programmer of claim 9, wherein the medical device is an implantable neurostimulator, and wherein the telemetry circuitry transmits signals to the implantable neurostimulator via the antenna and processes signals received from the implantable neurostimulator via the antenna.

12. The programmer of claim 9, wherein the display is a liquid crystal display.

13. The programmer of claim 1, further comprising an external antenna coupled to the programmer via a cable.

15. The programmer of claim 1, wherein the internal antenna comprises a plastic frame wound with conductive winding.

16. The programmer of claim 15, wherein the internal antenna comprises copper braid shielding substantially surrounding the plastic fame and the conductive winding.

18. The programmer of claim 1, wherein the medical device is an implantable neurostimulator.

10. (canceled).

14. (canceled).

17. The programmer of clam 1, wherein the internal antenna comprises a loop-like shape that defines the aperture.

19. A programmer for a medical device comprising:

a programmer housing;

an internal antenna mounted within the programmer housing, wherein the internal antenna defines an aperture; and

a battery bay formed within the programming housing, the battery bay being aligned substantially concentrically with the aperture.

20. The programmer of claim 19, wherein the battery bay is oriented such that batteries placed in the battery bay present a load to the internal antenna.

21. The programmer of claim 19, wherein the battery bay is oriented such that batteries placed in the battery bay present a load to enhance noise immunity of the internal antenna to external electromagnetic interference.

22. The programmer of claim 19, wherein the battery bay is sized to accommodate AAA batteries.

23. The programmer of claim 19, further comprising:

a first housing member;

a first circuit board within the first housing member;

a second circuit board disposed over the first circuit board within the first housing member; and

a second housing member disposed over the second circuit board to substantially enclose the first and second circuit boards, wherein the first housing member includes a molded area that defines the battery bay adjacent the first circuit board.

24. The programmer of claim 23, further comprising an access opening in the first housing member to gain access to the battery bay for placement of the batteries.

25. The programmer of claim 23, wherein the internal antenna is displaced from the first circuit board and coupled to the first circuit board via an antenna.

26. The programmer of claim 23, wherein the internal antenna is mounted to the first circuit board on a side of the first circuit board opposite the second circuit board, and a display is mounted to the second circuit board on a side of the second circuit board opposite the first circuit board.

27. The programmer of claim 26, wherein the first circuit board includes telemetry circuitry and the second circuit board includes control circuitry to control the display and the telemetry circuitry, the programmer further comprising an electrical interface between the first and second circuit boards.

28. The programmer of claim 26, wherein the telemetry circuitry transmits signals to the implantable neurostimulator via the antenna and processes signals received from the medical device via the antenna.

29. The programmer of claim 26, wherein the display is a liquid crystal display.

30. The programmer of claim 19, further comprising an external antenna coupled to the programmer via a cable.

31. The programmer of claim 19, wherein the internal antenna comprises a plastic frame would with conductive winding.

32. The programmer of claim 31, wherein the internal antenna comprises copper braid shielding substantially surrounding the plastic frame and the conductive winding.

34. The programmer of claim 19, wherein the medical dice is an implantable neurostimulator.

33. The programmer of clam 19, wherein the internal antenna comprises a loop-like shape that defines the aperture.