Far-Field Short-Range Radio-Frequency Antenna on the Side of an Implantable Medical Device Case

• US 20170281957A1
• Filed: 02/03/2017
• Published: 10/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Howard, Joshua D.
• Granted Patent: US 10,220,215 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37229 Shape or location of the implanted or external antenna
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3754 Feedthroughs

Abstract

An Implantable Medical Device (IMD) is disclosed having a bi-directional short-range far-field Radio-Frequency (RF) data antenna, operable in accordance with a short-range RF standard such as Bluetooth for example. The antenna is neither located inside the conductive case of the IMD, nor in the non-conductive header of the IMD that includes the lead connectors. Instead, the antenna is outside of the case, proximate to and generally planar with a flat planar side of the case that faces outward of the patient when the IMD is implanted. Dielectric materials keep the antenna from shorting to the case and to the patient'"'"'s tissue. Because the antenna is not located within the conductive case, data communications to and from the antenna are less subject to attenuation. Not locating the antenna in the header reserves room for the header'"'"'s lead connectors, thus simplifying IMD design.

Claims

1. An implantable medical device, comprising:

a case comprising electronic circuitry inside the case, wherein the case comprises a planar side;

a header affixed to the case, wherein the header comprises at least one lead connector configured to receive an electrode lead; and

a short-range far-field Radio-Frequency (RF) data antenna outside of the case, wherein the data antenna is proximate to and planar with the planar side of the case.

2. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the case is conductive.

3. The implantable medical device of claim 2, wherein the data antenna comprises a monopole antenna, and wherein the conductive case is grounded and acts as a ground plane for the monopole antenna.

4. The implantable medical device of claim 2, further comprising a dielectric material outside the case and between the data antenna and the planar side of the case.

5. The implantable medical device of claim 1, further comprising an electrode feedthrough configured to pass at least one electrode feedthrough pin from the inside to an outside of the case, wherein the at least one electrode pin is coupled to the electronic circuitry.

6. The implantable medical device of claim 5, wherein the lead connector comprises at least one header contact, wherein each at least one header contact is connected outside the case to one of the at least one feedthrough pins.

7. The implantable medical device of claim 1, further comprising a hole in the planar side of the case, wherein the data antenna is coupled to the electronic circuitry through the hole.

8. The implantable medical device of claim 7, further comprising an antenna feedthrough pin passing through the hole and comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the antenna feedthrough pin is connected at the first end to the electronic circuitry and is connected outside of the case at the second end to the data antenna.

9. The implantable medical device of claim 8, wherein the antenna feedthrough pin is sintered within the hole to provide a hermetic seal between the inside and outside of the case.

10. The implantable medical device of claim 1, further comprising a dielectric overcoat over the data antenna outside of the case.

11. The implantable medical device of claim 10, wherein the dielectric overcoat and the header comprise the same material.

12. The implantable medical device of claim 11, wherein the dielectric overcoat and the header are formed at the same time.

13. The implantable medical device of claim 12, wherein the dielectric overcoat and the header are contiguous.

14. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the data antenna comprises a wire.

15. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the data antenna is serpentined.

16. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the data antenna comprises a patch or slot antenna.

17. The implantable medical device of claim 1, further comprising a substrate outside of the case, wherein the data antenna is formed in or on the substrate.

18. The implantable medical device of claim 17, wherein the substrate is in contact with the planar side of the case.

19. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the data antenna comprises a lithographed or printed data antenna.

20. The implantable medical device of claim 19, further comprising a dielectric material in contact with the planar side of the case, where the data antenna is lithographed or printed on the dielectric material.

21. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the data antenna is configured to operate in accordance with a wireless communication standard comprising one or more of Bluetooth, BLE, NFC, Zigbee, WiFi, and MICS.