IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICES HAVING COFIRE CERAMIC MODULES AND METHODS OF FABRICATING THE SAME

• US 20150214604A1
• Filed: 01/24/2014
• Published: 07/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Zhao, Yanzhu, Wine, Nicholas C., Yamamoto, Joyce K., Aguirre, Gerardo, Knudsen, Arne Kolbjorn
• Granted Patent: US 9,502,754 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/12 Manufacturing methods specially adapted for producing sensors for in-vivo measurements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/00 Measuring for diagnostic purposes radiation diagnosis A61B6/00; diagnosis by ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves A61B8/00; Identification of persons
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37229 Shape or location of the implanted or external antenna
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/24 with receiving set
• 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 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

An implantable medical device (IMD) and methods of fabricating the same are provided. An IMD can include a housing and a cofire ceramic module (CCM) coupled to the housing. The CCM can include an antenna cofire-integrated in the CCM. The antenna can include a plate composed of conductive material, and conductive antenna elements that are annular substrates having perimeters substantially coextensive with the perimeter of the plate. The antenna can also include interconnections. A first set of interconnections can be coupled between the plate and one of the conductive antenna elements, and a second set of interconnections can be coupled between the conductive antenna elements. The antenna can also include a feed line conductively coupled to the plate. In some embodiments, the feed line can be substantially serpentine-shaped to adjust impedance in the CCM.

Claims

1. An implantable medical device (IMD), comprising:

a housing configured for one of human implant or being worn on a body; and

a cofire ceramic module coupled to the housing, wherein the cofire ceramic module includes an antenna cofire-integrated in the cofire ceramic module, the antenna comprising;

a plate composed of conductive material;

a plurality of layers of conductive antenna elements, the plurality of layers of conductive antenna elements being annular substrates having perimeters substantially coextensive with a perimeter of the plate;

a plurality of interconnections, wherein the plurality of interconnections comprise;

a first set of interconnections coupled between the plate and the conductive antenna element of one of the plurality of layers of conductive antenna elements; and

a second set of interconnections coupled between the conductive antenna elements of the remainder of the plurality of layers of conductive antenna elements; and

a feed line conductively coupled to the plate.

2. The IMD of claim 1, wherein the plurality of interconnections extend along a first axis and the plurality of layers of conductive antenna elements lie in planes that are substantially perpendicular to the first axis such that the antenna forms a substantially cage-shaped configuration.

3. The IMD of claim 1, wherein the annular substrates are at least one of substantially square annular substrates or substantially rectangular annular substrates.

4. The IMD of claim 1, further comprising:

a component configured to perform an electrical function or provide electrical conductivity with the cofire ceramic module.

5. The IMD of claim 4, further comprising a communication module disposed in the housing.

6. The IMD of claim 5, wherein the component comprises a metal pad cofire-integrated in the cofire ceramic module, and wherein the metal pad is configured to provide conductivity between the antenna and the communication module.

7. The IMD of claim 4, wherein the component comprises at least one of an active electrical component or a passive electrical component, and wherein the component is disposed in the housing.

8. The IMD of claim 4, wherein the component is at least one of a sensing electrode, a capacitor, an inductor or a matching circuit for the antenna.

9. The IMD of claim 1, wherein the plurality of interconnections comprises a plurality of substantially capacitive interconnections.

10. The IMD of claim 1, wherein the plurality of interconnections comprises a plurality of via interconnections.

11. The IMD of claim 1, wherein the feed line is substantially serpentine-shaped.

12. The IMD of claim 1, wherein the cofire ceramic module comprises a low temperature cofire ceramic material having a sintering temperature less than about 1000°

Celsius.

13. The IMD of claim 1, wherein the cofire ceramic module comprises a high temperature cofire ceramic material having a sintering temperature greater than about 1000°

Celsius.

14. The IMD of claim 1, wherein the cofire ceramic module comprises material or mixtures composed of at least one of zirconium, silicon, niobium, tantalum or an oxide of aluminum.

15. The IMD of claim 1, wherein the plurality of conductive antenna elements comprises material or mixtures composed of at least one of platinum, palladium, iridium, silver-palladium or platinum-iridium, niobium or tantalum.

16. The IMD of claim 1, wherein the plurality of conductive antenna elements comprises material or mixtures composed of at least one of molybdenum or tungsten.

17. The IMD of claim 1, wherein the housing is coupled to a first end of the cofire ceramic module.

18. The IMD of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a polymeric material.

19. The IMD of claim 1, further comprising:

a power source within the housing; and

electrical circuitry within the housing.

20. The IMD of claim 1, wherein the IMD comprises at least one of an implantable therapy lead, an implantable sensor, an implantable monitor, an implantable cardioverter defibrillator, an implantable neurostimulator, an implantable physiological monitor or an implantable pulse generator.

21. The IMD of claim 1, wherein the antenna is configured to communicate information indicative of at least one of a command associated with functionality of the IMD, a parameter associated with a setting for the IMD or a remaining battery life of the IMD.

22. The IMD of claim 1, wherein the antenna is configured to communicate information indicative of at least one of a biological event of a wearer of the IMD or data generated by the IMD.

23. The IMD of claim 1, wherein the antenna is a first antenna and is configured to perform at least one of intra-body communication with a second antenna in a body of a wearer of the IMD or interbody communication with a second antenna outside of the body of the wearer of the IMD.

24. A cofire ceramic module (CCM), comprising:

a housing comprised of dielectric material; and

an antenna cofire-integrated in the housing, configured for human implant and associated with an implantable medical device, the antenna comprising;

a conductive plate formed in a first configuration;

a plurality of layers of conductive antenna elements, the plurality of layers of conductive antenna elements being annular substrates formed in a second configuration, wherein the second configuration has a boundary that is substantially the same as a boundary for the first configuration;

a plurality of interconnections, wherein the plurality of interconnections comprise;

a first set of interconnections coupled between the conductive plate and the conductive antenna element of one of the plurality of layers of conductive antenna elements; and

a second set of interconnections coupled between the conductive antenna elements of the remainder of the plurality of layers of conductive antenna elements; and

a feed line coupled to the conductive plate.

25. The CCM of claim 24, wherein the plurality of interconnections extend along a first axis and the plurality of layers of conductive antenna elements lie in planes that are substantially perpendicular to the first axis such that the antenna forms a substantially cage-shaped configuration.

26. The CCM of claim 24, wherein the feed line is substantially serpentine-shaped.

27. The CCM of claim 24, wherein the CCM further comprises:

a metal pad cofire-integrated in the CCM.

28. The CCM of claim 26, wherein the metal pad is electrically coupled to the feed line.

29. The CCM of claim 24, wherein the plurality of interconnections comprises a plurality of pairs of substantially capacitive interconnections.

30. The CCM of claim 24, wherein the plurality of interconnections comprises a plurality of via interconnections.

31. The CCM of claim 24, wherein the dielectric material comprises a low temperature cofire ceramic material having a sintering temperature less than about 1000°

Celsius.

32. The CCM of claim 24, wherein the dielectric material comprises a high temperature cofire ceramic material having a sintering temperature greater than about 1000°

Celsius.

33. The CCM of claim 24, wherein the dielectric material comprises material or mixtures composed of at least one of zirconium, silicon, niobium, tantalum or an oxide of aluminum.

34. The CCM of claim 24, wherein the plurality of conductive antenna elements comprises material or mixtures composed of at least one of platinum, palladium, iridium, silver-palladium, platinum-iridium, niobium or tantalum.

35. The CCM of claim 24, wherein the plurality of conductive antenna elements comprises material or mixtures composed of at least one of molybdenum or tungsten.

36. A method of fabricating an implantable medical device (IMD), comprising:

providing a plurality of first dielectric structures;

forming a plurality of second dielectric structures based, at least, on providing a plurality of apertures in each of the plurality of first dielectric structures;

forming two or more conductive dielectric structures, wherein forming the two or more conductive dielectric structures comprises;

for at least two of the plurality of second dielectric structures;

filling one or more of the plurality of apertures with first conductive material;

depositing, over one or more of the plurality of filled apertures, second conductive material, wherein the second conductive material is formed in a substantially annular-shaped configuration;

depositing, on one or more of the plurality of filled apertures, third conductive material, wherein the third conductive material provides a plurality of interconnections; and

depositing fourth conductive material associated with a feed line;

forming a laminated structure based on laminating the two or more conductive dielectric structures;

forming a cofire ceramic module having a cofire-integrated antenna with cofire-integrated interconnections and the feed line based, at least, on cofiring the laminated structure, wherein the cofire-integrated antenna is configured for one of human implant or being worn on a body; and

adjoining the cofire ceramic module to a housing, wherein the housing is one of biocompatible and configured for human implant or configured to be worn on a body.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the second conductive material is a same material as the third conductive material.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein the adjoining comprises:

adjoining the cofire ceramic module to the housing via a hermetic seal.

39. The method of claim 36, further comprising:

electrically coupling a component of the housing to the feed line.

40. A method of fabricating an implantable medical device (IMD), comprising:

forming a laminated structure based on laminating a plurality of layers of dielectric material, wherein each of the layers of dielectric material comprises;

a plurality of apertures filled with first conductive material;

second conductive material provided over one or more of the filled apertures, wherein the second conductive material is formed in a substantially annular-shaped configuration;

third conductive material provided over one or more of the filled apertures associated with a plurality of interconnections; and

fourth conductive material associated with a feed line;

forming a cofire ceramic module having a cofire-integrated antenna with cofire-integrated interconnections and the feed line based, at least, on cofiring the laminated structure, wherein the cofire-integrated antenna is one of biocompatible and configured for human implant or configured to be worn on a body; and

adjoining the cofire ceramic module to a housing, wherein the housing is one of biocompatible and configured for human implant or configured to be worn on a body.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the second conductive material is a same material as the third conductive material.

42. The method of claim 40, wherein the adjoining comprises:

adjoining the cofire ceramic module to the housing via a hermetic seal.

43. The method of claim 40, further comprising:

electrically coupling a component of the housing to the feed line.