MEDICAL DEVICE ANTENNA SYSTEMS HAVING EXTERNAL ANTENNA CONFIGURATIONS

• US 20100305661A1
• Filed: 05/28/2010
• Published: 12/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Abbott Diabetes Care Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Abbott Diabetes Care Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: TAUB, Marc B., CROUTHER, Nathan, HE, Lei
• Granted Patent: US 9,184,490 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6833 Adhesive patches
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3569 sublocal, e.g. between console and disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/201 Glucose concentration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14248 of the skin patch type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/172 electrical or electronic A61M5/16804, A61M5/16831 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1723 using feedback of body parameters, e.g. blood-sugar, pressure measurement of body parameters A61B5/00
• 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 5/48 Combinations of two or more dipole type antennas

Abstract

A medical device includes an antenna external to a case, package, or encapsulant for the electronic systems of the medical device. In one embodiment, a diabetes infusion pump is enclosed within a metal case, the pump including a processor and a communication module for wireless communications. An antenna is disposed in the delivery tubing of the pump outside the case with an antenna feed interconnecting the external antenna with the internal communication module. In another aspect, a thin film antenna is formed on the outer surface of the case in which a physiological parameter sensor, such as a glucose sensor, is enclosed. Multiple antennas may be used for communications on different frequencies.

Claims

1. A medical device having wireless communication capability for data transfer with a host device, the medical device comprising:

a processor configured to control at least one function of the medical device;

a wireless communication module configured to communicate at a first frequency, the communication module being in operational data connection with the processor;

a case enclosing the processor and the wireless communication module, the case having an outer surface and defining an inside space within which the processor and wireless communication module are located, and an outside space within which the outside of the case and surrounding areas and objects are located, the outer surface of the case residing in the outside space;

an antenna located entirely in the outside space, the antenna being configured to efficiently communicate at the first frequency; and

an antenna feed interconnecting the antenna with the wireless communication module;

whereby the antenna provides a transducer for wireless data communication between the processor and a host device.

2. The medical device of claim 1, further comprising:

a pump located in the inside space, the pump being under control of the processor;

a delivery tube through which the pump forces a medical fluid to flow, the delivery tube having a first end located in the inside space and a second end located in the outside space;

wherein, the antenna feed and antenna are co-located with the delivery tube.

3. The medical device of claim 2, wherein the antenna feed co-located with the delivery tube is capacitively coupled to the communication module in the inside space.

4. The medical device of claim 2, wherein the antenna feed co-located with the delivery tube is inductively coupled to the communication module in the inside space.

5. The medical device of claim 1, wherein:

the delivery tube comprises a tube wall and a lumen through which fluid flows, and

the antenna feed and the antenna are formed as part of the tube wall.

6. The medical device of claim 1, wherein:

the delivery tube comprises a tube wall and a lumen through which fluid flows, and

the antenna feed and the antenna are formed as part of the tube wall through coextrusion with the delivery tube.

7. The medical device of claim 6, wherein:

the delivery tube comprises a tube wall and a lumen through which fluid flows, and

the antenna feed and the antenna are formed as a conductive polymer path embedded and co-extruded within a wall of the tube.

8. The medical device of claim 6, wherein:

the delivery tube comprises a tube wall and a lumen through which fluid flows, and

the antenna feed and the antenna are printed on an outside surface of the tube.

9. The medical device of claim 6, wherein:

the delivery tube comprises a tube wall and a lumen through which fluid flows, and

the antenna feed and the antenna include a conductive portion wound around a portion of the tube.

10. The medical device of claim 6, wherein:

the delivery tube comprises a tube wall and a first lumen through which fluid flows and a second lumen, separate from the first lumen, and

the antenna is located within the second lumen of the delivery tube.

11. The medical device of claim 1, wherein:

the antenna is formed on the outer surface of the case; and

the antenna feed interconnects the communication module at a point in the inside space to the antenna at a point in the outside space.

12. The medical device of claim 11, wherein the antenna is formed in a meandering pattern.

13. The medical device of claim 1, further comprising:

an adhesive patch attached to the case at one surface and having a second surface on which is located an adhesive suitable for holding the patch and the medical device to the skin of a user;

wherein the antenna comprises conductive wires woven into a layer of the adhesive patch.

14. The medical device of claim 1, further comprising:

an adhesive patch with a first side and a second side;

wherein the antenna is formed on the first side of the adhesive patch;

wherein the case is attached to the first side of the adhesive patch; and

the second side of the adhesive patch comprises an adhesive surface configured to adhere to skin of a user.

15. The medical device of claim 1, further comprising:

a sensor located in the inside space, the sensor being operatively connected with the processor;

wherein the case is an encapsulant;

wherein the antenna is formed on the outer surface of the encapsulant; and

wherein the antenna feed interconnects the communication module at a point in the inside space to the antenna at a point in the outside space.

16. The medical device of claim 1, further comprising:

a second antenna located in the outside space configured to efficiently communicate at a second frequency;

a second antenna feed interconnecting the second antenna with the wireless communication module.

17. A medical device having wireless communication capability for data transfer with a host device, the medical device comprising:

a processor;

a wireless communication module configured to communicate at a first frequency, the communication module being in operational data connection with the processor;

a medical device comprising a case enclosing communication circuitry and a processor, wherein the communication circuitry and the processor are communicatively coupled;

a sensor configured to sense a physiological parameter and provide sensor data to the processor;

a case enclosing the processor, the sensor, and the wireless communication module, the case having an outer surface and defining an inside space within which the processor, sensor, and wireless communication module are located, and an outside space within which the outside of the case and surrounding areas and objects are located, the outer surface of the case residing in the outside space;

a thin film antenna located entirely in the outside space configured to efficiently communicate at the first frequency; and

an antenna feed interconnecting the antenna with the wireless communication module;

whereby the antenna provides a transducer for wireless data communication between the processor and a host device.

22. The medical device of claim 17 wherein:

the case is an encapsulant;

wherein the antenna is formed on the outer surface of the encapsulant; and

wherein the antenna feed interconnects the communication module at a point in the inside space to the antenna at a point in the outside space.

18. The medical system of 17 wherein the thin film antenna is formed on a surface of the case.

19. The medical system of 17, wherein the antenna is printed on an outside surface of the tube.

20. The medical system of 19, wherein the antenna is formed in a meandering pattern.

21. The medical system of 17 wherein the sensor includes a glucose sensor.