External RF Telemetry Module for Implantable Medical Devices

• US 20100168818A1
• Filed: 12/31/2008
• Published: 07/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Barror, Michael William, Verhoef, William D., Yamamoto, Joyce K., Haubrich, Gregory J., Wentink, Robert S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,626,310 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/025 Digital circuitry features of electrotherapy devices, e.g. memory, clocks, processors
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3718 Monitoring of or protection against external electromagnetic fields or currents
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37229 Shape or location of the implanted or external antenna
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37512 Pacemakers
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3754 Feedthroughs
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/273 Adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/27 Spiral antennas

Abstract

An implantable medical device (“IMD”) is provided having an antenna and an RF telemetry module for far field telemetry communications arranged on an exterior of the IMD housing, such that telemetry signal processing may be performed on the exterior of the housing. One or more feedthrough conductive paths extend through the housing to communicatively couple the RF module to circuitry within the housing. In this manner RF module is arranged entirely external to the housing, such that only power and/or low frequency data bit signals are required to be passed through the feedthrough conductive path. This allows the feedthrough conductive path to be filtered to prevent undesired interference signals (e.g., electromagnetic interference (EMI) signals) from entering the housing through the feedthrough conductive path coupled to the RF module. In some embodiments, the antenna and RF module are formed in an integrated assembly attachable to an exterior portion of the housing.

Claims

1. An implantable medical device (“

IMD”

), comprising;

a housing;

an antenna arranged on an exterior of the housing;

a telemetry module arranged on the exterior of the housing and communicatively coupled with the antenna;

at least one feedthrough conductive path extending through the housing communicatively coupling the telemetry module to at least one component within the housing.

2. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the at least one feedthrough conductive path is filtered to prevent undesired interference signals from entering the housing through the feedthrough conductive path coupled to the telemetry module.

3. The implantable medical device of claim 2, wherein the telemetry module is conformally shaped to a corresponding external region of the housing.

4. The implantable medical device of claim 1, further comprising a hermetic cover arranged over the telemetry module and sealed against an exterior surface of the housing so as to enclose the telemetry module.

5. The implantable medical device of claim 4, further comprising:

a recessed region formed on an exterior surface of housing, wherein the telemetry module is arranged within the recessed region on the exterior of the housing;

wherein the hermetic cover is arranged over the recessed region and sealed against the exterior surface of the housing so as to enclose the telemetry module within the recessed region.

6. The implantable medical device of claim 5, wherein the hermetic cover comprises a ceramic material and the antenna is situated within the ceramic material.

7. The implantable medical device of claim 6, wherein the ceramic hermetic cover and antenna are cofired together into a monolithic structure.

8. The implantable medical device of claim 4, wherein the telemetry module is conformally shaped to a corresponding region of the hermetic cover.

9. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the telemetry module is covered with a shielding layer for providing at least one of electromagnetic interference (EMI) and electromagnetic capability (EMC) isolation for the telemetry module.

10. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the telemetry module is a potted external flex radio frequency (RF) module having self-contained RF circuitry and digital circuitry.

11. The implantable medical device of claim 11 wherein a telemetry module and the antenna are integrated together in a potting material.

12. An implantable medical device (“

IMD”

), comprising;

a housing;

an integrated antenna and telemetry module that includes a telemetry module communicatively coupled with an antenna, wherein the integrated antenna and telemetry module is arranged on an exterior of the housing and attached to an exterior surface of the housing; and

at least one feedthrough conductive path extending through the housing communicatively coupling the integrated antenna and telemetry module to at least one component within the housing.

13. The implantable medical device of claim 12, further comprising a filter attached to the at least one feedthrough conductive path for preventing undesired interference signals from entering the housing through the feedthrough conductive path coupled to the telemetry module.

14. The implantable medical device of claim 12, wherein the integrated antenna and telemetry module is conformally shaped to mate to a corresponding external region of the housing.

15. The implantable medical device of claim 12, wherein the integrated antenna and telemetry module includes a biocompatible cover, wherein the integrated antenna and telemetry module is sealed against an exterior surface of the housing such that the telemetry module in enclosed between the biocompatible cover and the exterior surface of the housing.

16. The implantable medical device of claim 15, further comprising.

a recessed region formed on an exterior surface of housing, wherein the telemetry module is arranged to be received within the recessed region on the exterior of the housing when the integrated antenna and telemetry module is sealed against an exterior surface of the housing.

17. The implantable medical device of claim 16, wherein the integrated antenna and telemetry module includes a ceramic material in which the antenna is situated and to which the telemetry module is attached.

18. The implantable medical device of claim 17, wherein the ceramic material and antenna are cofired together into a monolithic structure.

19. The implantable medical device of claim 12, wherein the telemetry module is covered with a shielding layer for providing at least one of electromagnetic interference (EMI) and electromagnetic capability (EMC) isolation for the telemetry module.

20. The implantable medical device of claim 12, wherein the telemetry module is a potted external flex radio frequency (RF) module having self-contained RF circuitry and digital circuitry.

21. The implantable medical device of claim 20, wherein a telemetry module and the antenna are integrated together in the potted external flex radio frequency (RF) module.