Telemetry system for implantable medical devices

• US 6,167,312 A
• Filed: 04/30/1999
• Issued: 12/26/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Goedeke, Steven D.
• Primary Examiner(s): EVANISKO, GEORGE ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US09/302,637
• Time in Patent Office: 606 Days
• Field of Search: 607/32, 607/60, 128/703
• US Class Current: 607/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37223 Circuits for electromagnetic coupling
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37229 Shape or location of the implanted or external antenna
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0602 using antenna switching H04B7/0686 takes precedence; antenna beam directivity switching H01Q3/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0814 based on current reception conditions, e.g. switching to different antenna when signal level is below threshold
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0825 with main and with auxiliary or diversity antennas

Abstract

A device for use in communication with an implantable medical device. The device is provided with a spatial diversity antenna array mounted to the device housing and an operating at defined frequency, located within the device housing, coupled to the antenna array. The antenna array includes at least one antenna permanently mounted to the device housing and an antenna removably mounted to the device housing and locatable at a distance from the housing, coupled to the RF transceiver. A device controller selects which of the antennas in the antenna array is coupled to the transceiver responsive to the quality of signals received by the antennas.

Claims

1. An external device for use in communication with an implantable medical device, comprising:

a device housing;

a device controller, mounted within the device housing;

a spatial diversity antenna array mounted to the device housing;

an RF transceiver operating at defined frequency, located within the device housing, coupled to the antenna array;

means for encoding signals to be transmitted to the implantable device, coupled to an input of the transceiver;

means for decoding signals received from the implantable device, coupled to an output of the transceiver; and

means for displaying demodulated signal received from the implanted device, mounted to the device housing;

wherein the antenna array comprises a first antenna permanently mounted to the device housing and a second antenna removably mounted to the device housing and locatable at a distance from the housing and means for coupling the removable antenna to the RF transceiver while the removable antenna is located at a distance from the device housing; and

wherein the device controller includes means for selecting which of the two antennas in the antenna array is coupled to the transceiver.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the means for coupling the removable antenna to the RF transceiver while the removable antenna is located at a distance from the device housing comprises a cord extendible to a distance of at least several feet.

3. A device according to claim 1 wherein the transceiver is a UHF transceiver.

4. A system comprising an external device and an associated implantable device, wherein the external device comprises:

an external device housing;

a device controller, mounted within the external device housing;

an antenna array mounted to the external device housing;

a first RF transceiver operating at defined frequency, located within the external device housing, coupled to the antenna array;

means for encoding signals to be transmitted to the implantable device, coupled to an input of the first transceiver;

means for decoding signals received from the implantable device, coupled to an output of the first transceiver; and

means for displaying demodulated signal received from the implanted device, mounted to the external device housing;

wherein the antenna array comprises a first antenna permanently mounted to the device housing and a second antenna removably mounted to the device housing and locatable at a distance from the housing and means for coupling the removable antenna to the first transceiver while the removable antenna is located at a distance from the device housing; and

wherein the device controller includes means for selecting which of the two antennas in the antenna array is coupled to the first transceiver; and

wherein the implantable device comprises;

a hermetic housing;

a second transceiver mounted within the hermetic housing; and

an antenna coupled to the second transceiver.

5. A system according to claim 4 wherein the transceivers arc UHF transceivers.

6. A device according to claim 4 wherein the means for coupling the removable antenna to the first transceiver while the removable antenna is located at a distance from the device housing comprises a cord extendible to a distance of at least several feet.