Bio-Medical Unit with Adjustable Antenna Radiation Pattern

• US 20110077716A1
• Filed: 07/01/2010
• Published: 03/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rofougaran, Ahmadreza (Reza)
• Application Number:
  US12/829,291
• Publication Number:
  US 20110077716A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/055 involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/00 Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis; Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis combined with radiation therapy equipment instruments measuring radiation intensity for application in the field of nuclear medicine, e.g. in vivo counting, G01T1/161; apparatus for taking X-ray photographs G03B42/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0009 involving or responsive to electricity, magnetism or acoustic waves; Galenical aspects of sonophoresis, iontophoresis, electroporation or electroosmosis microelectromechanical systems A61K9/0097
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2037/0007 having means for enhancing the permeation of substances through the epidermis, e.g. using suction or depression, electric or magnetic fields, sound waves or chemical agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3507 with implanted devices, e.g. external control
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3523 using telemetric means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 31/002 Devices for releasing a drug at a continuous and controlled rate for a prolonged period of time artificial gland structures or devices A61F2/022; intra-uterine contraceptive devices A61F6/14; tampons for introducing into the vagina A61F13/20, A61L15/00; suppositories or bougies for intra-vaginal or intra-uterine application A61K9/02; physical forms of medicinal preparations for sustained or differential drug release A61K9/20, A61K9/50
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/00 Other apparatus for introducing media into the body for reproduction or fertilisation A61B17/425; apparatus for iontophoresis or cataphoresis A61N1/30; Percutany, i.e. introducing medicines into the body by diffusion through the skin salt baths A61H33/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/325 for iontophoresis, i.e. transfer of media in ionic state by an electromotoric force into the body electrodes for external use A61N1/0428
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/002 in combination with another treatment
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/65 stored on portable record carriers, e.g. on smartcards, RFID tags or CD
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 delivered via infusion or injection
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

A bio-medical unit for implanting into a host body includes a power harvesting module, a communication module, an antenna assembly, and a processing module. The power harvesting module is operable to generate a supply voltage from an electromagnetic signal. The antenna assembly has an adjustable radiation pattern. The processing module is powered by the supply voltage and is operable to receive, via the communication module, a command regarding a bio-medical function. When the bio-medical function includes a radio frequency transmission, the processing module determines a desired radiation pattern for the antenna assembly. The processing module then determines an operating frequency based on the desired radiation pattern, wherein, for the radio frequency transmission, the antenna assembly has the desired radiation pattern.

Claims

1. A bio-medical unit comprises:

a power harvesting module operable to generate a supply voltage from an electromagnetic signal;

a communication module powered by the supply voltage;

an antenna assembly having an adjustable radiation pattern; and

a processing module powered by the supply voltage, wherein the processing module is operable to;

receive, via the communication module, a command regarding a bio-medical function;

when the bio-medical function includes a radio frequency transmission, determining a desired radiation pattern for the antenna assembly; and

determining an operating frequency based on the desired radiation pattern, wherein, for the radio frequency transmission, the antenna assembly has the desired radiation pattern and wherein the bio-medical unit is of a size for implanting into a host body.

2. The bio-medical unit of claim 1 further comprises:

the processing module determining a second radiation pattern for communication with a communication device external to the host body using a second operating frequency, wherein the antenna assembly has the second radiation pattern for the communication at the second operating frequency.

3. The bio-medical unit of claim 1 further comprises:

the processing module further operable to;

generate a continuous wave treatment signal in accordance with the bio-medical function; and

generate a transmit local oscillation control signal in accordance with the bio-medical function; and

the communication module including;

a local oscillation generator operable to generate a transmit local oscillation in accordance with transmit local oscillation control signal; and

a transmitter section operably coupled to;

generate a radio frequency (RF) continuous wave (CW) signal based on the transmit local oscillation and the continuous wave treatment signal;

an

output the RF CW signal to the antenna assembly, which transmits the RF CW signal in accordance with the radiation pattern.

4. The bio-medical unit of claim 1 further comprises:

the processing module further operable to;

generate a pulse treatment signal in accordance with the bio-medical function; and

generate a transmit local oscillation control signal in accordance with the bio-medical function; and

the communication module including;

a local oscillation generator operable to generate a transmit local oscillation in accordance with transmit local oscillation control signal; and

a transmitter section operably coupled to;

generate a radio frequency (RF) pulse signal based on the transmit local oscillation and the pulse treatment signal;

an

output the RF pulse signal to the antenna assembly, which transmits the RF pulse signal in accordance with the radiation pattern.

5. The bio-medical unit of claim 1 further comprises:

the processing module determining a varying operating frequency such that the radiation pattern of the antenna assembly varies to produce a varying radiation pattern;

the communication unit including;

a transmitter section operable to;

generate an outbound radio frequency (RF) signal; and

output the outbound RF signal to the antenna assembly, which transmits the outbound RF signal in accordance with the varying radiation pattern; and

a receiver section operable to receive a representation of the outbound RF signal; and

the processing module operable to generate a radar image of a body object based on the outbound RF signal and the representation of the outbound RF signal.

6. The bio-medical unit of claim 1, wherein the antenna comprises:

a first conductive layer; and

a second conductive layer substantially parallel to the first conductive layer and separated by a distance from the first conductive layer, wherein the second conductive layer includes a plurality of substantially equally spaced non-conductive areas corresponding to a particular range of frequencies to facilitate the radiation pattern for the particular range of frequencies.

7. A bio-medical unit comprises:

a power harvesting module operable to generate a supply voltage from an electromagnetic signal;

a communication module powered by the supply voltage;

an antenna assembly having a radiation pattern based on an antenna control signal; and

a processing module powered by the supply voltage, wherein the processing module is operable to;

receive, via the communication module, a command regarding a bio-medical function;

when the bio-medical function includes a radio frequency transmission, determining antenna parameters for the antenna assembly; and

generating the antenna control signal based on the antenna parameters, wherein the bio-medical unit is of a size for implanting into a host body.

8. The bio-medical unit of claim 7 further comprises:

the processing module determining a second antenna control signal for communication with a communication device external to the host body, wherein the antenna assembly has the second radiation pattern based on the second antenna control signal.

9. The bio-medical unit of claim 7 further comprises:

the processing module further operable to;

generate a continuous wave treatment signal in accordance with the bio-medical function; and

generate a transmit local oscillation control signal in accordance with the bio-medical function; and

the communication module including;

a local oscillation generator operable to generate a transmit local oscillation in accordance with transmit local oscillation control signal; and

a transmitter section operably coupled to;

generate a radio frequency (RF) continuous wave (CW) signal based on the transmit local oscillation and the continuous wave treatment signal;

an

output the RF CW signal to the antenna assembly, which transmits the RF CW signal in accordance with the radiation pattern.

10. The bio-medical unit of claim 7 further comprises:

the processing module further operable to;

generate a pulse treatment signal in accordance with the bio-medical function; and

generate a transmit local oscillation control signal in accordance with the bio-medical function; and

the communication module including;

a local oscillation generator operable to generate a transmit local oscillation in accordance with transmit local oscillation control signal; and

a transmitter section operably coupled to;

generate a radio frequency (RF) pulse signal based on the transmit local oscillation and the pulse treatment signal;

an

output the RF pulse signal to the antenna assembly, which transmits the RF pulse signal in accordance with the radiation pattern.

11. The bio-medical unit of claim 7 further comprises:

the processing module determining a varying antenna control signal such that the radiation pattern of the antenna assembly varies to produce a varying radiation pattern;

the communication unit including;

a transmitter section operable to;

generate an outbound radio frequency (RF) signal; and

output the outbound RF signal to the antenna assembly, which transmits the outbound RF signal in accordance with the varying radiation pattern; and

a receiver section operable to receive a representation of the outbound RF signal; and

the processing module operable to generate a radar image of a body object based on the outbound RF signal and the representation of the outbound RF signal.

12. The bio-medical unit of claim 7, wherein the antenna comprises:

a first conductive layer; and

a second conductive layer substantially parallel to the first conductive layer and separated by a distance from the first conductive layer, wherein the second conductive layer includes a plurality of substantially equally spaced non-conductive areas corresponding to a particular range of frequencies to facilitate the radiation pattern for the particular range of frequencies.

13. The bio-medical unit of claim 12, wherein the second conductive layer comprises:

a micro-electro mechanical assembly, wherein spacing of the substantially equally spaced non-conductive areas is adjusted in accordance with the antenna control signal.

14. A bio-medical unit comprises:

a power harvesting module operable to generate a supply voltage from an electromagnetic signal;

a communication module powered by the supply voltage;

an array of leaky antennas coupled to the communication module; and

a processing module powered by the supply voltage, wherein the processing module is operable to;

receive, via the communication module, a command regarding a bio-medical function;

when the bio-medical function includes a radio frequency transmission, determining desired radiation patterns for at least some of the antennas of the array of leaky antennas; and

determining operating frequencies based on the desired radiation patterns, wherein, for the radio frequency transmission, the at least some of the antennas of the array of leaky antennas has a cumulative desired radiation pattern and wherein the bio-medical unit is of a size for implanting into a host body.

15. The bio-medical unit of claim 14, wherein the processing module is further operable to:

determining second radiation patterns for at least one other antenna of the array of leaky antennas;

determining a second operating frequency based on the second radiation pattern, wherein communication with a communication device external to the host body using the second operating frequency and wherein the at least one other antenna of the array of leaky antennas has a cumulative desired second radiation pattern.

16. The bio-medical unit of claim 14 further comprises:

the processing module further operable to;

generate a continuous wave treatment signal in accordance with the bio-medical function; and

generate a transmit local oscillation control signal in accordance with the bio-medical function; and

the communication module including;

a local oscillation generator operable to generate a transmit local oscillation in accordance with transmit local oscillation control signal; and

a transmitter section operably coupled to;

generate a radio frequency (RF) continuous wave (CW) signal based on the transmit local oscillation and the continuous wave treatment signal;

an

output the RF CW signal to the array of leaky antennas, which transmits the RF CW signal in accordance with the cumulative desired radiation pattern.

17. The bio-medical unit of claim 14 further comprises:

the processing module further operable to;

generate a pulse treatment signal in accordance with the bio-medical function; and

generate a transmit local oscillation control signal in accordance with the bio-medical function; and

the communication module including;

a local oscillation generator operable to generate a transmit local oscillation in accordance with transmit local oscillation control signal; and

a transmitter section operably coupled to;

generate a radio frequency (RF) pulse signal based on the transmit local oscillation and the pulse treatment signal;

an

output the RF pulse signal to the array of leaky antennas, which transmits the RF pulse signal in accordance with the cumulative desired radiation pattern.

18. The bio-medical unit of claim 14 further comprises:

the processing module determining a varying operating frequency such that the cumulative radiation pattern of the array of leaky antennas varies to produce a varying radiation pattern;

the communication unit including;

a transmitter section operable to;

generate an outbound radio frequency (RF) signal; and

output the outbound RF signal to the array of leaky antennas, which transmits the outbound RF signal in accordance with the varying radiation pattern; and

a receiver section operable to receive a representation of the outbound RF signal; and

the processing module operable to generate a radar image of a body object based on the outbound RF signal and the representation of the outbound RF signal.

19. The bio-medical unit of claim 14, wherein a leaky antenna of the array of leaky antennas comprises:

a first conductive layer; and

a second conductive layer substantially parallel to the first conductive layer and separated by a distance from the first conductive layer, wherein the second conductive layer includes a plurality of substantially equally spaced non-conductive areas corresponding to a particular range of frequencies to facilitate a corresponding radiation pattern for the particular range of frequencies.