IN-HEADER PERIMETER RF ANTENNA

• US 20100099959A1
• Filed: 10/15/2009
• Published: 04/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Deehr, Mark G., Maile, Keith R., Chizek, David A., Maddali, Mahesh, Larson, Dennis E.
• Granted Patent: US 9,616,241 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/302
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37229 Shape or location of the implanted or external antenna
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3752 Details of casing-lead connections
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2208 associated with components used in interrogation type services, i.e. in systems for information exchange between an interrogator/reader and a tag/transponder, e.g. in Radio Frequency Identification [RFID] systems methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns G06K7/00; record carrier for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/273 Adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/40 Radiating elements coated with or embedded in protective material

Abstract

This document discusses, among other things, an implantable dielectric compartment including a channel in an outer surface of the implantable dielectric compartment, the channel configured to constrain a portion of an implantable antenna in a specific configuration along the length of the portion of the implantable antenna. In certain examples, the implantable antenna can be configured to wirelessly transfer information electromagnetically at a specified operating frequency provided using the specific configuration of the portion of the implantable antenna.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

an implantable dielectric compartment coupled to an implantable device housing, the implantable dielectric compartment including a channel in an outer surface of the implantable dielectric compartment;

wherein the channel is configured to constrain a portion of an implantable antenna in a specific configuration along the length of the portion of the implantable antenna; and

wherein the implantable antenna is configured to wirelessly transfer information electromagnetically at a specified operating frequency, the specified operating frequency provided using the specific configuration of the portion of the implantable antenna.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the channel includes a narrow portion having a cross section area smaller than a cross section area of the implantable antenna, the narrow portion configured to position the implantable antenna inside the channel.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the implantable antenna includes a polymer covering the portion of the implantable antenna, the polymer providing interference fit in the narrow portion of the channel, the channel sized and shaped to provide a specific configuration for the implantable antenna.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the implantable antenna is configured to wirelessly transfer information electromagnetically from within a biological medium using a specified operating frequency, the specified operating frequency provided using the specific configuration of the implantable antenna in the biological medium.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the implantable dielectric compartment includes a cap coupled to the channel, the cap configured to cover the portion of the implantable antenna along the channel;

and

wherein the implantable dielectric compartment includes a first interlocking feature and the cap includes a second interlocking feature, the first and second interlocking features configured to couple the cap to the channel.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the channel and the cap are configured to establish a specified distance between the portion of the implantable antenna and the biological medium, the specified distance configured to control an impedance of the implantable antenna.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the channel includes a tapered channel, and wherein the cap is configured to position the portion of the implantable antenna in a specific configuration inside the tapered channel.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the implantable antenna includes a wire antenna configured to be positioned in the channel;

wherein the implantable dielectric compartment includes a third interlocking feature and the cap includes a fourth interlocking feature, the third and fourth interlocking features separate from the first and second interlocking features; and

wherein the first and second interlocking features are configured to couple the cap to the channel at a first point over the implantable antenna, and wherein the second and third interlocking features are configured to couple the cap to the channel at a second point, wherein the distal end of the implantable antenna is configured to be located substantially between the first and second points, such that the first, second, third, and fourth interlocking features are configured to secure the distal end of the implantable antenna in the channel.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the implantable dielectric compartment includes a fifth interlocking feature and the cap includes a sixth interlocking feature, the fifth and sixth interlocking features separate from the first, second, third, and fourth interlocking features;

and

wherein the fifth and sixth interlocking features are configured to couple the cap to the channel at a third point, wherein the first and second points are located on a first side of the implantable dielectric compartment and the third point is located on a second side of the implantable dielectric compartment, the second side different from the first side.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the first, third, and fifth interlocking features include female connectors and the second, fourth, and sixth interlocking features include male connectors.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the implantable dielectric compartment includes a first receptacle and a second receptacle, the first receptacle configured to receive a first lead and the second receptacle configured to receive a second lead, the first receptacle closer to the implantable medical device housing than the second receptacle;

and

wherein the channel is located in the outer surface of the implantable dielectric compartment substantially between first and second receptacles.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the implantable dielectric compartment includes a third receptacle, the third receptacle configured to receive a third lead, the second receptacle closer to the implantable medical device housing than the third receptacle.

13. A system comprising:

an implantable dielectric compartment coupled to an implantable device housing, the implantable dielectric compartment including;

a tapered channel in an outer surface of the implantable dielectric compartment, the tapered channel configured to constrain a portion of an implantable antenna in a specific configuration along the length of the portion of the implantable antenna;

a cap coupled to the tapered channel, the cap configured to cover the portion of the implantable antenna along the tapered channel and to contain the portion of the implantable antenna in the specific configuration along the inside of the tapered channel;

wherein the implantable antenna includes a wire antenna having a polymer covering the portion of the implantable antenna, and wherein the tapered channel includes a narrow portion having a cross section area smaller than a cross sectional area of the polymer covering the implantable antenna, the narrow portion providing an interference fit with the polymer, the narrow portion configured to position the implantable antenna within the tapered channel;

wherein the implantable antenna is configured to wirelessly transfer information electromagnetically using a specified operating frequency provided using the specific configuration of the implantable antenna;

wherein the implantable dielectric compartment includes a first interlocking feature and the cap includes a second interlocking feature, the first and second interlocking features configured to couple the cap to the tapered channel at a first point over the implantable antenna;

wherein the implantable dielectric compartment includes a third interlocking feature and the cap includes a fourth interlocking feature, the third and fourth interlocking features configured to couple the cap to the tapered channel at a second point, the third and fourth interlocking features separate from the first and second interlocking features; and

wherein the distal end of the implantable antenna is configured to be located substantially between the first and second points, such that the first, second, third, and fourth interlocking features are configured to secure the distal end of the implantable antenna in the tapered channel.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the implantable dielectric compartment includes a fifth interlocking feature and the cap includes a sixth interlocking feature, the fifth and sixth interlocking features separate from the first, second, third, and fourth interlocking features;

and

wherein the fifth and sixth interlocking features are configured to couple the cap to the tapered channel at a third point, wherein the first and second points are located on a first side of the implantable dielectric compartment and the third point is located on a second side of the implantable dielectric compartment, the second side different from the first side.

15. A method comprising:

providing a tapered channel in an outer surface of an implantable dielectric compartment, the tapered channel configured to constrain a portion of an implantable antenna in a specific configuration along the length of the portion of the implantable antenna; and

wirelessly transferring information electromagnetically at a specified operating frequency using the implantable antenna, the specified operating frequency provided using the specific configuration of the portion of the implantable antenna.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the wirelessly transferring information electromagnetically includes wirelessly transferring information electromagnetically at a specified operating frequency from within a biological medium using the implantable antenna, the specified operating frequency provided using the specific configuration of the portion of the implantable antenna in the biological medium.

17. The method of claim 15, including providing a narrow portion in the tapered channel having a cross section area smaller than a cross section area of the implantable antenna, the narrow portion configured to position the implantable antenna inside the tapered channel.

18. The method of claim 17, including providing an interference fit between a polymer covering the portion of the implantable antenna and the narrow portion of the tapered channel, wherein the tapered channel is sized and shaped to provide the specific configuration for the implantable antenna.

19. The method of claim 15, including providing a cap configured to cover the portion of the implantable antenna in the tapered channel and to position the implantable antenna in the specific configuration inside the tapered channel, the cap coupled to the tapered channel using a first interlocking feature of the implantable dielectric compartment and a second interlocking feature of the cap.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the cap is coupled to the tapered channel at a first point over the implantable antenna using the first and second interlocking features and at a second point using the third and fourth interlocking features, wherein the implantable antenna includes a wire antenna, and wherein the distal end of the wire antenna is configured to be located substantially between the first and second points.