Implantable device including multiple communication antennas
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An implantable medical device (IMD), comprising:
- a housing;
at least two radio frequency (RF) antennas disposed external and adjacent the housing, each RF antenna configured to receive RF signals transmitted to the IMD from a remote RF signal source, wherein the RF antennas are spaced-apart from one another by a distance that is at least one quarter of the center frequency wavelength;
an RF communication circuit disposed within the housing and configured to selectively receive the RF signals received by one or more of the RF antennas, wherein the RF communication circuit is configured to operate at a center frequency, the center frequency having a wavelength; and
an antenna switch coupled between each of the RF antennas and the RF communication circuit, the antenna switch configured to receive a switch control signal and operable, in response thereto, to selectively couple the RF communication circuit to one of the RF antennas, whereby one of the RF antennas is an active antenna.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An implantable device, such as an implantable medical device (IMD) includes at least two radio frequency (RF) antennas and may additionally include an RF communication circuit. The RF antennas are spatially diverse, are disposed adjacent a housing, and are each configured to receive RF signals transmitted to the IMD from a remote RF signal source. The RF communication circuit, if included, is disposed within the housing and is configured to selectively receive the RF signals received by one or more of the spatially diverse RF antennas.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. An implantable medical device (IMD), comprising:
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a housing; at least two radio frequency (RF) antennas disposed external and adjacent the housing, each RF antenna configured to receive RF signals transmitted to the IMD from a remote RF signal source, wherein the RF antennas are spaced-apart from one another by a distance that is at least one quarter of the center frequency wavelength; an RF communication circuit disposed within the housing and configured to selectively receive the RF signals received by one or more of the RF antennas, wherein the RF communication circuit is configured to operate at a center frequency, the center frequency having a wavelength; and an antenna switch coupled between each of the RF antennas and the RF communication circuit, the antenna switch configured to receive a switch control signal and operable, in response thereto, to selectively couple the RF communication circuit to one of the RF antennas, whereby one of the RF antennas is an active antenna. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An implantable medical device (IMD), comprising:
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a housing; at least two spatially diverse radio frequency (RF) antennas positioned external and adjacent the housing, each RF antenna configured receive RF signals transmitted to the IMD from a remote RF signal source and to emit RF signals to one or more remote devices; an RF communication circuit disposed within the housing and configured to selectively receive the RF signals received by one or more of the spatially diverse RF antennas and supply the RF signals emitted by one or more of the spatially diverse antennas; and an antenna switch coupled between each of the RF antennas and the RF communication circuit, the antenna switch configured to receive a switch control signal and operable, in response thereto, to selectively couple the RF communication circuit to one of the RF antennas, whereby one of the RF antennas is an active antenna. - View Dependent Claims (15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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16. The IMD of 14, wherein:
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the antenna switch is operable to selectively couple the RF communication circuit to two or more of the RF antennas; and the RF communication circuit is further operable to combine the RF signals received by the two or more spatially diverse antennas.
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23. An implantable medical device (IMD), comprising:
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a housing having two or more electrically conductive sections electrically insulated from one another; each housing section functioning as one of at least two spatially diverse radio frequency (RF) antennas, each RF antenna configured receive RF signals transmitted to the IMD from a remote RF signal source and to emit RF signals to one or more remote devices; an RF communication circuit disposed within the housing and configured to selectively receive the RF signals received by one or more of the spatially diverse RF antennas and supply the RF signals emitted by one or more of the spatially diverse antennas; and an antenna switch coupled between each of the RF antennas and the RF communication circuit, the antenna switch configured to receive a switch control signal and operable, in response thereto, to selectively couple the RF communication circuit to one of the RF antennas, whereby one of the RF antennas is an active antenna.
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24. An implantable medical device (IMD), comprising:
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a housing; a physiological therapy supply circuit disposed within the housing and configured to selectively supply therapy pulses; at least two spatially diverse radio frequency (RF) antennas, each RF antenna configured receive RF signals transmitted to the IMD from a remote RF signal source and to emit RF signals to one or more remote devices; one or more therapy leads extending through the housing and coupled to receive the therapy pulses from the physiological therapy supply circuit, wherein at least one of the one or more therapy leads includes a first of the at least two spatially diverse RF antennas; a second of the at least two spatially diverse RF antennas positioned external and adjacent to the housing; an RF communication circuit disposed within the housing and configured to selectively receive the RF signals received by one or more of the spatially diverse RF antennas and supply the RF signals emitted by one or more of the spatially diverse antennas; and an antenna switch coupled between each of the RF antennas and the RF communication circuit, the antenna switch configured to receive a switch control signal and operable, in response thereto, to selectively couple the RF communication circuit to one of the RF antennas, whereby one of the RF antennas is an active antenna.
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Specification