Antenna buffer layer for an electromagnetic control unit

• US 9,155,899 B2
• Filed: 06/17/2014
• Issued: 10/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nyxoah SA
• Original Assignee: Nyxoah SA
• Inventors: Mashiach, Adi, Mashiach, Itzik
• Primary Examiner(s): Wieland, Robert N
• Application Number:
  US14/306,975
• Publication Number:
  US 20140371823A1
• Time in Patent Office: 483 Days
• Field of Search: 607/60
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/30 Surgical pincettes without pivotal connectionsfor holding suture needles or materials A61B17/0483; wound clamps A61B17/08 ; hand-held gripping tools without pivotal connections in general B25B9/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0219 of externally powered implanted units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/16 Details of sensor housings or probes; Details of structural supports for sensors A61B2560/0462 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/164 the sensor is mounted in or on a conformable substrate or carrier
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/227 Sensors with electrical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/113 occurring during breathing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/389 Electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4519 Muscles A61B5/389, A61B5/224 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4818 Sleep apnoea
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/682 Mouth, e.g., oral cavity; tongue; Lips; Teeth
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6822 Neck
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6833 Adhesive patches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6876 Blood vessel
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/04 Electric stethoscopes microphones, acoustic transducers therefor H04R
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/566 Intra-oral devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0404 for external use A61N1/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0456 Specially adapted for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation [TENS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0492 : Patch electrodes A61N1/0412, A61N1/0428 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0514 : Electrodes for the urinary tract
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0526 : Head electrodes A61N1/0551 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0553 : Paddle shaped electrodes, e.g. for laminotomy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36003 : of motor muscles, e.g. for walking assistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3601 : of respiratory organs
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36014 : External stimulators, e.g. with patch electrodes external pacemakers A61N1/3625
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3605 : Implantable neurostimulators for stimulating central or peripheral nerve system
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36057 : adapted for stimulating afferent nerves
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36075 : Headache or migraine
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3611 : Respiration control stimulating respiratory organs A61N1/3601
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36117 : for treating hypertension
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36135 : using physiological parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36139 : with automatic adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36146 : specified by the stimulation parameters
• 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: A61N 1/3756 : Casings with electrodes thereon, e.g. leadless stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3758 : Packaging of the components within the casing
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 : from an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/006 : for magnetic stimulation of nerve tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/02 : using magnetic fields produced by coils, including single turn loops or electromagnets A61N2/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2001/37294 : Means for testing medical devices within the package prior to implantation

Abstract

A unit for wirelessly transmitting power to an implant unit configured to be located in a subject'"'"'s body is provided. The unit may include a flexible carrier including an adhesive backing configured for attaching the unit to skin of the subject, an antenna associated with the flexible carrier, the antenna being configured to wirelessly transmit power to the implant unit in response to a signal applied to the antenna, and a buffer layer disposed on the flexible carrier at a position to be between the antenna and the skin of the subject when the carrier is attached to the skin of the subject, the buffer layer being configured to establish an air gap between the skin of the subject and the antenna.

Claims

1. A unit for wirelessly transmitting power to an implant unit configured to be located in a subject'"'"'s body, comprising:

a flexible carrier including an adhesive backing configured for attaching the unit to skin of the subject;

an antenna associated with the flexible carrier, the antenna being configured to wirelessly transmit power to the implant unit in response to a signal applied to the antenna;

a buffer layer disposed on the flexible carrier at a position to be between the antenna and the skin of the subject when the carrier is attached to the skin of the subject, the buffer layer being configured to establish an air gap between the skin of the subject and the antenna.

2. The unit of claim 1, wherein the buffer layer includes a dielectric material.

3. The unit of claim 1, wherein the buffer layer extends beyond a periphery of the antenna.

4. The unit of claim 1, wherein the air gap is at least 250 microns and no more than 5 mm.

5. The unit of claim 1, wherein the buffer layer includes a closed cell foam.

6. The unit of claim 1, wherein the buffer layer establishes the air gap via an extending adhesive sub-layer.

7. The unit of claim 1, wherein the adhesive backing is formed around a perimeter of the buffer layer.

8. The unit of claim 1, wherein the buffer layer includes a separation sub-layer.

9. The unit of claim 1, wherein the adhesive backing includes at least one of adhesive stripes, adhesive dots, and an adhesive mesh.

10. The unit of claim 1, wherein the air gap is at least 250 microns and no more than 1 mm.