SYSTEMS FOR ENABLING TELEMETRY IN AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE

• US 20070288065A1
• Filed: 06/09/2006
• Published: 12/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Christman, Timothy J., Edwardson, Jason J., Carey, Bart A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,720,544 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 1/3758 Packaging of the components within the casing
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/273 Adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/30 with feed to end of elongated active element, e.g. unipole H01Q9/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/42 with folded element, the folded parts being spaced apart a small fraction of the operating wavelength

Abstract

A system for enabling telemetry in implantable medical devices is provided. One aspect of this disclosure relates to an implantable medical device having radio-frequency telemetry capabilities. The device includes a housing and electronic circuitry contained within the housing. The device also includes an antenna connected to the electronic circuitry, the antenna having a helical portion and a whip portion, the whip portion separate from a feed conductor and adapted to enhance a radiation pattern of the antenna. According to various embodiments, the antenna and circuitry are adapted to facilitate transmission and reception of modulated radio-frequency energy at a specified carrier frequency. At least a portion of the antenna is embedded in a dielectric compartment, according to various embodiments. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein.

Claims

1. An implantable medical device, comprising:

a housing;

electronic circuitry contained within the housing;

an antenna connected to the electronic circuitry, the antenna having a helical portion and a whip portion, the whip portion separate from a feed conductor and adapted to enhance a radiation pattern of the antenna; and

wherein the antenna and circuitry are adapted to facilitate transmission and reception of modulated radio-frequency energy at a specified carrier frequency.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the antenna is embedded in a dielectric compartment.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the compartment includes a header adjacent a housing surface.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the header is adapted to connect to one or more leads having one or more electrodes adapted to deliver electrical therapy.

5. The device of claim 2, wherein the compartment includes a pocket within the housing.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the specified carrier frequency includes frequencies within the range from 300 MHz to 1 GHz.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the feed conductor is adapted to provide an electrical connection between the electronic circuitry and the antenna.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the feed conductor is adapted to connect to the antenna at a point along the antenna selected for optimal transmitting and receiving of radio-frequency energy at a specified frequency.

9. The device of claim 7, further comprising:

a return structure attached to the antenna.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the return structure is adapted to provide a capacitive return path

11. The device of claim 9, wherein the return structure is adapted to provide a conductive return path

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the return structure includes a conductor suspended in a dielectric a predetermined distance from the housing to prevent high-voltage arc-over during therapy delivery.

13. An implantable medical device, comprising:

a housing;

electronic circuitry contained within the housing;

a header adjacent a housing surface;

a dielectric compartment adjacent a housing surface and adjacent the header;

an antenna connected to the electronic circuitry, the antenna having a helical portion embedded in the header and a whip portion embedded in the dielectric compartment; and

wherein the antenna and circuitry are adapted to facilitate transmission and reception of modulated radio-frequency energy at a specified carrier frequency.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the compartment includes a first dielectric material and the header includes a second dielectric material.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the first dielectric material is different than the second dielectric material.

16. The device of claim 14, wherein the first dielectric material includes a sleeve of alumina.

17. The device of claim 14, wherein the first dielectric material includes a sleeve of a ceramic.

18. The device of claim 14, wherein the first dielectric material includes a high-dielectric constant liquid in a sleeve surrounding the antenna.

19. The device of claim 14, wherein the first dielectric material includes an overmold dielectric material.

20. The device of claim 14, wherein the first dielectric material includes a medical adhesive backfill dielectric material.

21. The device of claim 14, wherein the first dielectric material includes a circuit board dielectric material.

22. The device of claim 13, wherein the helical portion of the antenna includes a metal wire wound around a bobbin.

23. The device of claim 22, wherein the bobbin has a dielectric core.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein the dielectric core includes alumina.

25. The device of claim 23, wherein the dielectric core includes a ceramic.

26. The device of claim 23, wherein the dielectric core includes a high-dielectric constant liquid.

27. A method, comprising:

forming an antenna assembly, including forming an antenna having a helical portion and a whip portion, the whip portion separate from a feed conductor;

installing the antenna assembly in an implantable medical device; and

connecting the antenna assembly to electronic circuitry within the implantable medical device.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein forming the antenna assembly includes surrounding the antenna with a dielectric material.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein surrounding the antenna with a dielectric material includes overmolding the antenna.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein surrounding the antenna with a dielectric material includes backfilling with a medical adhesive.

31. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

after installing the antenna assembly in the implantable medical device, surrounding the antenna with a dielectric material.

32. The method of claim 27, wherein forming an antenna assembly includes surrounding the antenna with dielectric-embedded passive elements, the passive elements adapted to change shape of a transmit and receive spatial pattern.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein forming the passive elements includes forming passive elements adapted to tune the antenna over a specified range of frequencies.

34. The method of claim 27, wherein installing the antenna assembly in an implantable medical device includes placing the helical portion of the antenna in a device header.