RESONANCE TUNING MODULE FOR IMPLANTABLE DEVICES AND LEADS

• US 20080130194A1
• Filed: 10/29/2007
• Published: 06/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Gray, Robert W., MacDonald, Stuart G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,209,029 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/270
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/025 Digital circuitry features of electrotherapy devices, e.g. memory, clocks, processors
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/05 for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode A61N1/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/086 Magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] compatible leads
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37 Monitoring; Protecting
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3718 Monitoring of or protection against external electromagnetic fields or currents
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37211 Means for communicating with stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37223 Circuits for electromagnetic coupling
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/375 Constructional arrangements, e.g. casings
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3758 Packaging of the components within the casing

Abstract

An implantable medical assist device includes a medical device. The medical device has a housing and electronics contained therein. A lead provides an electrical path to or from the electronics within the medical device. A resonance tuning module is located in the housing and is connected to the lead. The resonance tuning module includes a control circuit for determining a resonant frequency of the implantable medical assist device and an adjustable impedance circuit to change the combined resonant frequency of the medical device and lead.

Claims

1. An electrode, comprising:

a conductive housing;

an inner conductive layer;

a dielectric material between said conductive housing and said inner conductive layer to form a capacitor; and

an inductor coil connected to said inner conductive layer.

2. The electrode as claimed in claim 1, wherein said conductive housing is substantially cylindrical.

3. The electrode as claimed in claim 2, wherein said conductive housing is substantially cylindrical and said inner conductive layer is substantially ring-shaped.

4. The electrode as claimed in claim 2, wherein said inductor coil and said capacitor have a resonance frequency substantially equal to an operating frequency of a magnetic resonance imaging scanner.

5. The electrode as claimed in claim 2, wherein said inductor coil and said capacitor have a resonance frequency substantially equal to a harmonic of an operating frequency of a magnetic resonance imaging scanner.

6. The electrode as claimed in claim 2, wherein said inductor coil and said capacitor have a resonance frequency slightly detuned from an operating frequency of a magnetic resonance imaging scanner.

7. The electrode as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a nonconductive spacer.

8. The electrode as claimed in claim 7, wherein said non-conductive spacer includes pass-through holes for enabling wires to pass therethrough.

9. The electrode as claimed in claim 7, wherein said non-conductive spacer is substantially ring-shaped.

10. The electrode as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a heat sink.

11. The electrode as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a heating absorbing material.

12. The electrode as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a heating wicking material.

13. The electrode as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a heating removing system.

14. The electrode as claimed in claim 7, wherein said non-conductive spacer is located within a lumen of said inductor coil.

15. An electrode, comprising:

a conductive housing;

a discrete component having a capacitor and an inductor; and

a dielectric material between said conductive housing and said discrete component.

16. The electrode as claimed in claim 15, wherein said conductive housing is substantially cylindrical.

17. The electrode as claimed in claim 15, wherein said inductor and said capacitor have a resonance frequency substantially equal to an operating frequency of a magnetic resonance imaging scanner.

18. The electrode as claimed in claim 15, wherein said inductor and said capacitor have a resonance frequency substantially equal to a harmonic of an operating frequency of a magnetic resonance imaging scanner.

19. The electrode as claimed in claim 15, wherein said inductor coil and said capacitor have a resonance frequency slightly detuned from an operating frequency of a magnetic resonance imaging scanner.

20. The electrode as claimed in claim 15, further comprising a nonconductive spacer.