Telemetry system for implantable medical devices

• US 6,240,317 B1
• Filed: 04/30/1999
• Issued: 05/29/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Dublin, Garry L., Villaseca, Eduardo H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Application Number:
  US09/303,178
• Time in Patent Office: 760 Days
• Field of Search: 128/903, 128/510, 607/609, 607/27, 607/32, 607/60
• US Class Current: 607/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37229 Shape or location of the implanted or external antenna
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2258 used with computer equipment

Abstract

An implantable medical device for delivering a medical therapy or for monitoring physiologic parameters. The device is provided with a hermetic housing containing a transceiver coupled to an antenna located outside the housing by means of a feedthrough, mounted to the housing and coupled to the transceiver. The antenna takes the form of a length of conductor, coupled to the feedthrough. In some embodiments the antenna is an insulated stranded conductor coupled to the feedthrough by means of a metallic loading tab. In other embodiments the antenna includes a length of conductor encased in a dielectric, extending from the feedthrough, and a coaxial shield coupled to the housing and extending along only a portion of the length of conductor.

Claims

1. An implantable medical device, comprising:

a hermetic housing;

means for delivering a medical therapy, located within the housing;

a transceiver mounted within the housing and coupled to the therapy delivering means;

a first feedthrough, mounted to the housing and coupled to the transceiver;

an antenna located external to the housing and coupled to the first feedthrough, the antenna comprising a metallic tab having first and second ends, the first end coupled to the feedthrough and the second end coupled to a length of insulated conductor.

3. A device according to claim 1 or claim 2 comprising a non-conductive header mounted to the housing, wherein the metallic tab is mounted to the header.

4. A device according to claim 3 wherein the tab is mounted within the header.

5. A device according to claim 3 wherein the length of insulated conductor extends external to the header.

6. A device according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the tab is formed of a metal sheet and wherein the second end of the tab has a width greater than the first end of the tab.

7. A device according to claim 1 or claim 2 comprising a second feedthrough coupled to the therapy delivering means wherein the header comprises means for connecting a medical electrical lead to the second feedthrough.

8. A device according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the transceiver is a UHF transceiver.

2. An implantable medical device, comprising:

a hermetic housing;

means for monitoring a physiologic parameter, located within the housing;

a transceiver mounted within the housing and coupled to the monitoring means;

a first feedthrough, mounted to the housing and coupled to the transceiver;

an antenna located external to the housing and coupled to the first feedthrough, the antenna comprising a metallic tab having first and second ends, the first end coupled to the feedthrough and the second end coupled to a length of insulated conductor.

9. An implantable medical device, comprising:

a hermetic conductive housing;

means for delivering a medical therapy, located within the housing;

a transceiver mounted within the housing and coupled to the therapy delivering means;

a first feedthrough, mounted to the housing and coupled to the transceiver;

an antenna located external to the housing and coupled to the first feedthrough, the antenna comprising a length of conductor encased in a dielectric, extending from the first feedthrough, and a coaxial shield coupled to the housing and extending along only a portion of the length of conductor.

10. An implantable medical device, comprising:

a hermetic conductive housing;

means for monitoring a physiologic parameter, located within the housing;

a transceiver mounted within the housing and coupled to the monitoring means;

a first feedthrough, mounted to the housing and coupled to the transceiver;

an antenna located external to the housing and coupled to the first feedthrough, the antenna comprising a length of conductor encased in a dielectric, extending from the first feedthrough, and a coaxial shield coupled to the housing and extending along only a portion of the length of conductor.

11. A device according to claim 9 or claim 10 comprising a non-conductive header mounted to the housing, wherein the coaxial shield is mounted to the header.

12. A device according to claim 11 wherein the coaxial shield is mounted within the header.

13. A device according to claim 11 wherein the length of conductor extends external to the header.

14. A device according to claim 9 or claim 10 comprising a second feedthrough coupled to the monitoring means and wherein the header comprises means for connecting a medical electrical lead to the second feedthrough.

15. A device according to claim 9 or claim 10 wherein the transceiver is a UHF transceiver.

16. An implantable medical device, comprising:

a hermetic housing;

means for delivering a medical therapy, located within the housing;

a transceiver mounted within the housing and coupled to the therapy delivering means;

a first feedthrough, mounted to the housing and coupled to the transceiver;

a second feedthrough mounted to the housing and coupled to the therapy delivering means;

a non-conductive header mounted to the housing;

a medical electrical lead coupled to the second feedthrough and extending from the header; and

an antenna located external to the housing and having a first end coupled to the first feedthrough, the antenna comprising a length of conductor extending from the housing and having an end coupled mechanically to the medical electrical lead.

18. A device according to claim 16 or claim 17 wherein the transceiver is a UHF transceiver.

17. An implantable medical device, comprising:

a hermetic housing;

means for monitoring a physiologic parameter, located within the housing;

a transceiver mounted within the housing and coupled to the monitoring means;

a first feedthrough, mounted to the housing and coupled to the transceiver;

a second feedthrough mounted to the housing and coupled to the monitoring means;

a non-conductive header mounted to the housing;

a medical electrical lead coupled to the second feedthrough and extending from the header; and

an antenna located external to the housing and having a first end coupled to the first feedthrough, the antenna comprising a length of conductor extending from the housing and having a second end coupled mechanically to the medical electrical lead.