PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD COMMUNICATION COIL FOR USE IN AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE SYSTEM

• US 20090222066A1
• Filed: 02/29/2008
• Published: 09/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: AGHASSIAN, DANIEL, CHEN, JOEY
• Granted Patent: US 8,666,491 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/61
• 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 1/3787 from an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0239 Signal transmission by AC coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/165 incorporating printed inductors

Abstract

Disclosed is an improved external controller useable in an implantable medical device system. The communication coil in the external controller is formed in a printed circuit board (PCB), i.e., by using the various tracing layers and vias of the PCB. As illustrated, the PCB coil is formed at a plurality of trace layers in the PCB, and comprises a plurality of turns at some or all of the layers. The communication coil may wrap around the other circuitry used in the external controller, which circuitry may be mounted to the front and/or back of the PCB. The geometry of the coil is specially tailored to maximize its inductance, and hence maximize its ability to communicate in the sub-4 MHz range which is not significantly attenuated by the human body.

Claims

1. An external controller for communicating with an implantable medical device, comprising:

a printed circuit board (PCB), the PCB having a plurality of layers of traces;

external controller circuitry coupled to the PCB for compiling a therapy program for an implantable medical device; and

a communication coil coupled to the external controller circuitry for broadcasting the therapy program via magnetic coupling to the implantable medical device, wherein the communication coil comprises a plurality of turns in the traces in the plurality of layers of the PCB, wherein vias connect the plurality of turns between layers.

6. The external controller of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the external controller circuitry is within the communication coil.

7. The external controller of claim 1, wherein all of the external controller circuitry is within the communication coil.

8. The external controller of claim 1, wherein the therapy program is broadcast by the communication coil at a frequency less than 4 MHz.

26. The external controller of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of turns in each layer are wound in a counterclockwise direction, and wherein the plurality of turns alternate at successive layers between being wound inwardly and outwardly.

2-5. -5. (canceled)

9. An external device for communicating with an implantable medical device, comprising:

a printed circuit board (PCB), the PCB having a plurality of layers of traces;

external device circuitry coupled to the PCB; and

a coil activated by the external device circuitry for broadcasting via magnetic coupling to the implantable medical device at a frequency less than 4 MHz, wherein the coil is formed in the plurality of layers of traces.

10. The external device of claim 9, wherein the coil comprises at least one turn at each of the plurality of layers of traces.

11. The external device of claim 9, wherein the plurality of layers of traces are connected by vias within the PCB.

12. The external device of claim 9, wherein at least a portion of the external device circuitry is within the coil.

13. The external device of claim 9, wherein all of the external device circuitry is within the coil.

14. The external device of claim 9, wherein the external device comprises an external charger, and wherein the broadcast comprises power for the implantable medical device.

15. The external device of claim 9, wherein the external device comprises an external controller, and wherein the broadcast comprises data for the implantable medical device.

16. A system, comprising:

an external device for sending a wireless signal to an implantable medical device, comprising;

a printed circuit board (PCB), the PCB having a plurality of layers of traces,

external device circuitry coupled to the PCB, and

a first coil activated by the external controller circuitry for broadcasting via magnetic coupling the wireless signal to the implantable medical device, wherein the communication coil comprises a plurality of turns in the traces in the plurality of layers of the PCB, wherein vias connect the plurality of turns between layers; and

an implantable medical device, wherein the implantable medical device comprises a second coil for receipt of the wireless signal broadcast from the first coil.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein at least a portion of the external device circuitry is within the first coil.

22. The system of claim 16, wherein all of the external device circuitry is within the first coil.

23. The system of claim 16, wherein the wireless signal comprises data.

24. The system of claim 16, wherein the wireless signal comprises power.

25. The system of claim 16, wherein the wireless signal comprises a signal at a frequency less than 10 MHz.

27. The system of claim 16, wherein each of the plurality of turns in each layer are wound in a counterclockwise direction, and wherein the plurality of turns alternate at successive layers between being wound inwardly and outwardly.

17-20. -20. (canceled)