ANTENNAS FOR USE WITH TRANSCUTANEOUSLY POWERED MEDICAL IMPLANTS

• US 20180071542A1
• Filed: 03/23/2016
• Published: 03/15/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced Bionics AG (Sonova Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Advanced Bionics AG (Sonova Holding AG)
• Inventors: Nyberg, David Andr, Heerlein, Markus Michael, Walter, Jeryle l., Lee, Sung Jin
• Granted Patent: US 10,543,369 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/08 Arrangements or circuits for monitoring, protecting, controlling or indicating for external stimulators A61N1/3603; for implantable neurostimulators A61N1/36128; for heart stimulators A61N1/37; for defibrillators A61N1/3925
• 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: H01F 27/2823 Wires H01F27/2866 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/273 Adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals
• 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: H01Q 7/06 with core of ferromagnetic material H01Q7/02 takes precedence

Abstract

An antenna having an inductor assembly including at least two conductors, which each define a conductor diameter D_c, and an electrically non-conductive carrier defining at least two lumens in which the at least two conductors are respectively located. The carrier maintains a conductor spacing S between the at least two conductors, and the inductor assembly defines at least one turn. The conductor spacing S and conductor diameter D_c together define a S/D_c ratio that ranges from about 0.5 to about 1.2.

Claims

1. An antenna for use with a medical implant, the antenna comprising:

an inductor assembly including at least two conductors, which each define a conductor diameter D_c, and an electrically non-conductive carrier defining at least two lumens in which the at least two conductors are respectively located that maintains a conductor spacing S between the at least two conductors;

wherein the inductor assembly defines at least one turn; and

wherein the conductor spacing S and conductor diameter D_c together define a S/D_c ratio that ranges from about 0.5 to about 1.2.

2. An antenna as claimed in claim 1, wherein

wherein the S/D_c ratio is about 1.0.

3. An antenna as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the inductor assembly includes four conductors;

and

the electrically non-conductive carrier defines four lumens in which the four conductors are respectively located.

4. An antenna as claimed in claim 3, wherein

the four conductors are arranged in two rows and two columns;

the S/D_c ratio for the conductors in each row ranges from about 0.5 to about 1.2; and

the S/D_c ratio for the conductors in each column ranges from about 0.5 to about 1.2.

5. An antenna as claimed in claim 1, wherein

each conductor includes six cables twisted around a center cable in a hexagonal formation.

6. An antenna as claimed in claim 5, wherein

each cable includes six wires twisted around an center wire in a hexagonal formation.

7. An antenna as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the inductor assembly defines three turns.

8. A cochlear implant, comprising:

a stimulation processor;

a cochlear lead with an electrode array operably connected to the stimulation processor; and

an antenna including

an inductor assembly with at least two conductors, which each define a conductor diameter D_c, and an electrically non-conductive carrier defining at least two lumens in which the at least two conductors are respectively located that maintains a conductor spacing S between the at least two conductors,

wherein the inductor assembly defines at least one turn, and

wherein the conductor spacing S and conductor diameter D_c together define a S/D_c ratio that ranges from about 0.5 to about 1.2.

9. A cochlear implant as claimed in claim 8, further comprising:

a flexible housing that houses the a stimulation processor and antenna.

10. A cochlear implant as claimed in claim 8, wherein

wherein the S/D_c ratio is about 1.0.

11. A cochlear implant as claimed in claim 8, wherein

the inductor assembly includes four conductors;

and

the electrically non-conductive carrier defines four lumens in which the four conductors are respectively located.

12. A cochlear implant as claimed in claim 11, wherein

the four conductors are arranged in two rows and two columns;

the S/D_c ratio for the conductors in each row ranges from about 0.5 to about 1.2; and

the S/D_c ratio for the conductors in each column ranges from about 0.5 to about 1.2.

13. A cochlear implant as claimed in claim 8, wherein

each conductor includes six cables twisted around a center cable in a hexagonal formation.

14. A cochlear implant as claimed in claim 13, wherein

each cable includes six wires twisted around an center wire in a hexagonal formation.

15. A cochlear implant as claimed in claim 8, wherein

the inductor assembly defines three turns.