Transceiver coil for auditory prosthesis

• US 7,260,435 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2002
• Issued: 08/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cochlear Limited
• Original Assignee: Cochlear Limited
• Inventors: Ibrahim, Ibrahim Hanna
• Primary Examiner(s): Bockelman; Mark
• Application Number:
  US10/250,831
• Publication Number:
  US 20040044382A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,917 Days
• Field of Search: 607/32, 607/60, 607 55- 57, 128/903, 128/904, 600/300, 604/891.1, 455/851
• US Class Current: 607/57
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36036 of the outer, middle or inner ear
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36038 Cochlear stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37229 Shape or location of the implanted or external antenna
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source
• 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: H02J 2310/23 The load being a medical device, a medical implant, or a life supporting device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/005 Mechanical details of housing or structure aiming to accommodate the power transfer means, e.g. mechanical integration of coils, antennas or transducers into emitting or receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/402 the two or more transmitting or the two or more receiving devices being integrated in the same unit, e.g. power mats with several coils or antennas with several sub-antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/70 involving the reduction of electric, magnetic or electromagnetic leakage fields

Abstract

The invention provides a tuned transmitter coil for transcutaneous transmission of power and information from an external component of an auditory prosthesis to an implanted receiver. A shield is provided in order to reduce a skin-to-coil capacitance, thereby improving tuning stability of the coil from one user to the next. A shield may also be provided in order to reduce electromagnetic interference.

Claims

1. A tuned transmitter coil device for transcutaneous RF transmission of power and information from an external component of an auditory prosthesis to an implanted receiver, the transmitter coil device comprising a first shield for reducing a skin-to-coil capacitance, wherein the transmitter coil device and the first shield are formed on a printed circuit board and wherein the transmitter coil device comprises first and second layers of the printed circuit board, each of the first and second layers comprising a respective track, each track, the respective tracks being electrically connected to each other on the printed circuit board and each track defining a spiral with a plurality of turns, the first shield being positioned relative to the first and second layers of the transmitter coil device such that, when the transmitter coil device is brought close to the user'"'"'s skin for transcutaneous transmission of power and information, the first shield is positioned between the transmitter coil device and the user'"'"'s skin.

2. The tuned transmitter coil device of claim 1 wherein the first shield is integrally formed with the tuned transmitter coil device.

3. The tuned transmitter coil device of claim 1 wherein each respective spiral defined by the tracks of the first and second layers is substantially circular.

4. The tuned transmitter coil device of claim 1 wherein the dimensions of the track of each of the first and second layers are predetermined in order to control electrical performance of the transmitter coil device.

5. The tuned transmitter coil device of claim 4 wherein the number of turns of each of the spirals is predetermined in order to control electrical performance of the transmitter coil device.

6. The tuned transmitter coil device of claim 4 wherein the radial spacing between adjacent turns of the spiral is predetermined in order to control electrical performance of the transmitter coil device.

7. The tuned transmitter coil device of claim 4 wherein a substrate of the printed circuit board is selected in order to control electrical performance of the transmitter coil device.

8. The tuned transmitter coil device of claim 1 wherein each turn of the spiral of the first layer is placed adjacent to a respective gap between turns of the spiral of the second layer.

9. The tuned transmitter coil device of claim 1 wherein the first shield is formed on a third layer of the printed circuit board integrally formed with the first and second layers of the printed circuit board.

10. The tuned transmitter coil device according to claim 9 wherein the first shield is defined by tracks on the third layer, extending in a region adjacent to the spirals of the first and second layers.

11. The tuned transmitter coil device according to claim 10 wherein the tracks defining the first shield are in the form of a plurality of substantially concentric open loops, and wherein each of the open loops are electrically grounded.

12. The tuned transmitter coil device of claim 11 wherein the tracks defining the open loops of the first shield have a small width relative to a width of the tracks of the first and second layers.

13. The tuned transmitter coil device of claim 11 wherein each open loop of the first shield is positioned adjacent to a gap between turns of the spiral of the adjacent layer.

14. The tuned transmitter coil device according to claim 9 further comprising a second shield for reducing electromagnetic emissions from the transmitter coil device.

15. The tuned transmitter coil device according to claim 14 wherein the second shield is placed on a side of the transmitter coil device opposite to a side of the transmitter coil device on which the first shield is placed.

16. The tuned transmitter coil device according to claim 14 wherein the second shield extends in a region substantially adjacent to the spirals of the first and second layers.

17. The tuned transmitter coil device of claim 14 wherein the transmitter coil device and the first shield are formed on the printed circuit board, and wherein the second shield is defined by tracks on a fourth layer of the printed circuit board.

18. The tuned transmitter coil device according to claim 17, wherein the tracks defining the second shield extend substantially within a region adjacent to the turns of the spirals of the first and second layers.

19. The tuned transmitter coil device according to claim 17 wherein the tracks defining the second shield are in the form of a plurality of substantially concentric open loops.

20. The tuned transmitter coil device of claim 19 wherein each of the open loops are electrically grounded.

21. The tuned transmitter coil device of claim 17 wherein the tracks defining the second shield have a small width relative to a width of the tracks of the first and second layers.

22. The tuned transmitter coil device of claim 17 wherein the tracks defining the second shield are positioned adjacent to gaps between turns of the spiral of an adjacent layer of the printed circuit board.

23. A transceiver for an auditory prosthesis comprising:

a tuned transmitter coil for transcutaneous transmissions, tuned to a desired frequency of transmission; and

a first shield for reducing a skin-to-coil capacitance wherein the transmitter coil and the first shield are formed on a printed circuit board and wherein the transmitter coil comprises first and second layers of the printed circuit board, each of the first and second layers comprising a respective track, the respective tracks being electrically connected to each other on the printed circuit board and each track defining a spiral with a plurality of turns, the first shield being positioned relative to the transmitter coil such that, when the transmitter coil is brought close to a user'"'"'s skin for transcutaneous transmission of power and information, the first shield is positioned between the transmitter coil and the user'"'"'s skin.

24. The transceiver of claim 23 wherein the first shield is integrally formed with the tuned transmitter coil.

25. The transceiver of claim 23 wherein each respective spiral defined by the tracks of the first and second layers is substantially circular.

26. The transceiver of claim 23 wherein the dimensions of the track of each of the first and second layers are predetermined in order to control electrical performance of the coil.

27. The transceiver of claim 26 wherein the number of turns of each of the spirals is predetermined in order to control electrical performance of the coil.

28. The transceiver of claim 26 wherein the radial spacing between adjacent turns of the spiral is predetermined in order to control electrical performance of the coil.

29. The transceiver of claim 26 wherein a substrate of the printed circuit board is selected in order to control electrical performance of the coil.

30. The transceiver of claim 23 wherein each turn of the spiral of the first layer is placed adjacent to a respective gap between turns of the spiral of the second layer.

31. The transceiver of claim 23 wherein the first shield is formed on a third layer of the printed circuit board integrally formed with the first and second layers of the printed circuit board.

32. The transceiver according to claim 31 wherein the first shield is defined by tracks on the third layer, extending in a region adjacent to the spirals of the first and second layers.

33. The transceiver according to claim 32 wherein the tracks defining the first shield are in the form of a plurality of substantially concentric open loops, and wherein each of the open loops are electrically grounded.

34. The transceiver of claim 33 wherein the tracks defining the open loops of the first shield have a small width relative to a width of the tracks of the first and second layers.

35. The transceiver of claim 33 wherein each open loop of the first shield is positioned adjacent to a gap between turns of the spiral of the adjacent layer.

36. The transceiver of claim 23 further comprising a second shield for reducing electromagnetic emissions from the transmitter coil.

37. The transceiver according to claim 36 wherein the second shield is placed on a side of the transmitter coil opposite to a side of the transmitter coil on which the first shield is placed.

38. The transceiver according to claim 36 wherein the second shield extends in a region substantially adjacent to the spirals of the first and second layers.

39. The transceiver of claim 36, wherein the coil and the first shield are formed on the printed circuit board, and wherein the second shield is defined by tracks on a fourth layer of the printed circuit board.

40. The transceiver according to claim 39, wherein the tracks defining the second shield extend substantially within a region adjacent to the turns of the spirals of the first and second layers.

41. The transceiver according to claim 39 wherein the tracks defining the second shield are in the form of a plurality of substantially concentric open loops.

42. The transceiver of claim 41 wherein each of the open loops are electrically grounded.

43. The transceiver of claim 39 wherein the tracks defining the second shield have a small width relative to a width of the tracks of the first and second layers.

44. The transceiver of claim 39 wherein the tracks defining the second shield are positioned adjacent to gaps between turns of the spiral of an adjacent layer of the printed circuit board.

45. An external processor unit for an auditory prosthesis, comprising:

a transceiver comprising a tuned transmitter coil for transcutaneous transmission, tuned to a desired frequency of transmission; and

a first shield for reducing a skin-to-coil capacitance wherein the transmitter coil and the first shield are formed on a printed circuit board and wherein the transmitter coil comprises first and second layers of the printed circuit board, each of the first and second layers comprising a respective track, the respective tracks being electrically connected to each other on the printed circuit board and each track defining a spiral with a plurality of turns the first shield being positioned relative to the transmitter coil such that, when the transmitter coil is brought close to a user'"'"'s skin for transcutaneous transmission of power and information, the first shield is positioned between the transmitter coil and the user'"'"'s skin.

46. The external processor unit of claim 45 wherein the first shield is integrally formed with the tuned transmitter coil.

47. The external processor unit of claim 45 wherein each respective spiral defined by the tracks of the first and second layers is substantially circular.

48. The external processor unit of claim 45 wherein the dimensions of the track of each of the first and second layers are predetermined in order to control electrical performance of the coil.

49. The external processor unit of claim 48 wherein the number of turns of each of the spirals is predetermined in order to control electrical performance of the coil.

50. The external processor unit of claim 48 wherein the radial spacing between adjacent turns of the spiral is predetermined in order to control electrical performance of the coil.

51. The external processor unit of claim 48 wherein a substrate of the printed circuit board is selected in order to control electrical performance of the coil.

52. The external processor unit of claim 45 wherein each turn of the spiral of the first layer is placed adjacent to a respective gap between turns of the spiral of the second layer.

53. The external processor unit claim 45 wherein the first shield is formed on a third layer of the printed circuit board integrally formed with the first and second layers of the printed circuit board.

54. The external processor unit according to claim 53 wherein the first shield is defined by tracks on the third layer, extending in a region adjacent to the spirals of the first and second layers.

55. The external processor unit according to claim 54 wherein the tracks defining the first shield are in the form of a plurality of substantially concentric open loops, and wherein each of the open loops are electrically grounded.

56. The external processor unit of claim 55 wherein the tracks defining the open loops of the first shield have a small width relative to a width of the tracks of the first and second layers.

57. The external processor unit of claim 55 wherein each open loop of the first shield is positioned adjacent to a gap between turns of the spiral of the adjacent layer.

58. The external processor unit of claim 45 further comprising a second shield for reducing electromagnetic emissions from the transmitter coil.

59. The external processor unit according to claim 58 wherein the second shield is placed on a side of the transmitter coil opposite to a side of the coil on which the first shield is placed.

60. The external processor unit according to claim 58 wherein the second shield extends in a region substantially adjacent to the spirals of the first and second layers.

61. The external processor unit of claim 58, wherein the coil and the first shield are formed on the printed circuit board, and wherein the second shield is defined by tracks on a fourth layer of the printed circuit board.

62. The external processor unit according to claim 61, wherein the tracks defining the second shield extend substantially within a region adjacent of the spirals of the first and second layers.

63. The external processor unit according to claim 61 wherein the tracks defining the second shield are in the form of a plurality of substantially concentric open loops.

64. The external processor unit of claim 63 wherein each of the open loops are electrically grounded.

65. The external processor unit of claim 61 wherein the tracks defining the second shield have a small width relative to a width of the tracks of the first and second layers.

66. The external processor unit of claim 61 wherein the tracks defining the second shield are positioned adjacent to gaps between turns of the spiral of an adjacent layer of the printed circuit board.

67. An external processor unit for an auditory prosthesis, comprising:

a transmitter coil for transmission of transcutaneous electromagnetic signals to an implant;

a receiver for receiving wireless transmissions from a signal source; and

a shield for reducing electromagnetic emissions of the transmission coil wherein the transmitter coil and the shield are formed on a printed circuit board and wherein the transmitter coil comprises first and second layers of the printed circuit board, each of the first and second layers comprising a respective track, the respective tracks being electrically connected to each other on the printed circuit board and each track defining a spiral with a plurality of turns, the shield being placed relative to the transmitter coil such that when the transmitter coil is brought into proximity to the user'"'"'s skin for transcutaneous transmission, the shield is positioned between the transmitter coil and the user'"'"'s skin.

68. The external processor unit of claim 67 wherein each respective spiral defined by the tracks of the first and second layers is substantially circular.

69. The external processor unit of claim 67 wherein the dimensions of the track of each of the first and second layers are predetermined in order to control electrical performance of the coil.

70. The external processor unit of claim 69 wherein the number of turns of each of the spirals is predetermined in order to control electrical performance of the coil.

71. The external processor unit of claim 69 wherein the radial spacing between adjacent turns of the spiral is predetermined in order to control electrical performance of the coil.

72. The external processor unit of claim 69 wherein a substrate of the printed circuit board is selected in order to control electrical performance of the coil.

73. The external processor unit of claim 69 wherein each turn of the spiral of the first layer is placed adjacent to a respective gap between turns of the spiral of the second layer.

74. The external processor unit of claim 67 wherein the shield extends in a region substantially adjacent to the spirals of the first and second layers.

75. The external processor unit of claim 67, wherein the shield is defined by tracks on a fourth layer of the printed circuit board.

76. The external processor unit according to claim 75, wherein the tracks defining the shield extend substantially within a region adjacent to the turns of the spirals of the first and second layers.

77. The external processor unit according to claim 75 wherein the tracks defining the shield are in the form of a plurality of substantially concentric open loops.

78. The external processor unit of claim 77 wherein each of the open loops are electrically grounded.

79. The external processor unit of claim 75 wherein the tracks defining the shield have a small width relative to a width of the tracks of the first and second layers.

80. The external processor unit of claim 75 wherein the tracks defining the shield are positioned adjacent to gaps between turns of the spiral of an adjacent layer of the printed circuit board.

81. The external processor unit of claim 67 wherein the external processor unit is adapted for mounting on a user'"'"'s ear.

82. The external processor unit of claim 67 wherein the external processor unit comprises a cable to the transmission coil to allow the transmission coil to be placed behind a user'"'"'s ear, for coupling with an implant.