ANATOMICALLY COMPLIANT ANTENNA FOR IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE

• US 20140266933A1
• Filed: 03/11/2014
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Neuropace Inc.
• Original Assignee: Neuropace Inc.
• Inventors: ANDERSEN, Dean, PEARSON, John Dunagan, ARCHER, Stephen T.
• Granted Patent: US 9,837,704 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/718
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37229 Shape or location of the implanted or external antenna
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/273 Adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/36 Structural form of radiating elements, e.g. cone, spiral, umbrella; Particular materials used therewithH01Q1/08, H01Q1/14 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/40 Radiating elements coated with or embedded in protective material
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/00 Loop antennas with a substantially uniform current distribution around the loop and having a directional radiation pattern in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the loop

Abstract

A flexible antenna is associated with an active implantable medical device to facilitate communication between the implantable medical device and an external component in the outside world via, for example, long range or far field telemetry. The flexibility of the antenna allows it to conform to the shape of the location at which it is situated, such as on the cranial bone of a patient for an antenna associated with a cranially implanted medical device. The conformability of the antenna helps to maintain the antenna in the desired shape and to maintain it in the desired location relative to implantable medical device and the patient and improves patient comfort.

Claims

1. An antenna for facilitating communication between an implanted medical device and external component, comprising:

a length of flexible metal shaped into a plurality of turns and arranged to be located alongside the housing of an implantable medical device; and

a strain relief configured to be connected to the housing and to encase the length of flexible metal,

wherein the antenna is suitable for enabling communication between the implantable medical device and an external component via long range telemetry.

2. The antenna of claim 1 wherein the strain relief is formed from a resilient material.

3. The antenna of claim 1 wherein the strain relief is formed from silicone.

5. The antenna of claim 1 wherein the encasement further comprises a flexible material.

6. The antenna of claim 1 wherein the encasement comprises a silicone material.

4. An antenna for facilitating communication between an implanted medical device and external component, comprising:

a length of flexible metal shaped into a plurality of turns and arranged to be located alongside the housing of an implantable medical device;

an encasement for the length of flexible metal to entirely contain the flexible metal within its boundaries, the encasement disposed so that when connected to the housing, the encasement will lie alongside a portion of the housing.

7. An implantable medical device, comprising:

a housing;

an antenna feedthrough extending from the housing, and

an antenna coupled to the antenna feedthrough and configured to be bent and, upon being bent, to retain a bent shape.

8. The device of claim 7, further comprising an encasement configured to contain the antenna.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the encasement lies alongside a portion of the housing.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein the encasement is formed from a resilient material.

11. The device of claim 7, further comprising a strain relief configured to be connected to the housing and to encase the antenna.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the strain relied is configured to support leads extending from the housing.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein the strain relief is formed from a resilient material.