Antenna and body implant

• US 20080143619A1
• Filed: 07/31/2007
• Published: 06/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Zarlink Semiconductor Limited (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Zarlink Semiconductor Limited (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Inventors: Wotherspoon, Tracy
• Application Number:
  US11/882,257
• Publication Number:
  US 20080143619A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/718
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/076 Permanent implantations telemetry using implanted circuitry A61B5/0031; implanted stimulators for therapy A61N1/3605, A61N1/362, A61N1/372
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/273 Adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals

Abstract

A body implant antenna comprises an electrically conductive electrode formed on the surface of an enclosure filled with a fluid having a relatively permittivity greater than 10. The fluid is substantially electrically insulating and forms a substrate of the conductive electrode. Antenna size may therefore be reduced while permitting a relatively efficient antenna to be provided.

Claims

1. A body implant antenna comprising an electrically conductive electrode and a substantially electrically insulating substrate comprising a fluid having a relative permittivity greater than 10, said substrate acting as an antenna substrate for said electrode.

2. An antenna as claimed in claim 1, in which said fluid comprises a liquid.

3. An antenna as claimed in claim 2, in which said fluid comprises water.

4. An antenna as claimed in claim 3, in which said water is at least one of distilled and deionised.

5. An antenna as claimed in claim 1, in which said fluid is of fixed composition.

6. An antenna as claimed in claim 1, in which said fluid is of fixed mass.

7. An antenna as claimed in claim 1, comprising an enclosure having a surface and containing said fluid, said being formed at said surface of said enclosure.

8. An antenna as claimed in claim 7, in which said surface is an internal surface and said electrode is formed on said internal surface of said enclosure.

9. An antenna as claimed in claim 7, in which the enclosure is sealed.

10. An antenna as claimed in claim 7, in which said surface comprises a flexible membrane.

11. An antenna as claimed in claim 7, in which said enclosure has an external surface which is substantially inert to body fluids.

12. An antenna as claimed in claim 7, in which said enclosure is substantially impervious to said fluid and to body fluids.

13. An antenna as claimed in claim 1, comprising an electronic circuit electrically connected to said electrode.

14. An antenna as claimed in claim 7, comprising an electronic circuit electrically connected to said electrode and disposed inside said enclosure.

15. An antenna as claimed in claim 14, comprising a further enclosure, said circuit being sealed inside said further enclosure.

16. An antenna as claimed in claim 14, in which said fluid is sealed between said enclosure and said further enclosure.

17. A body implant comprising an antenna comprising an electrically conductive electrode and a substantially electrically insulating substrate comprising a fluid having a relative permittivity greater than 10, said substrate acting as an antenna substrate for said electrode.