Antenna for an implantable medical device
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An implantable medical device, comprising:
- a housing for containing electronic circuitry;
an antenna embedded in a dielectric compartment;
circuitry within the housing connected to the antenna for transmitting and receiving a modulated radio-frequency carrier at a specified carrier frequency; and
,an antenna tuning circuit for matching the impedance of the antenna to the transmitting/receiving circuitry at a specified carrier frequency by loading the antenna with inductance or capacitance and a transformer through which the antenna is connected to the transmitting/receiving circuitry for electrically isolating the transmitting/receiving circuitry from the housing, wherein the antenna tuning circuit further comprises a variable tuning capacitor for adjusting the resonant frequency of the antenna.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for enabling far-field radio-frequency communications with an implantable medical device in which an antenna is embedded within a dielectric compartment of the device. A helical antenna may be employed to save space while still permitting far-field telemetry over a desired range of frequencies.
267 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An implantable medical device, comprising:
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a housing for containing electronic circuitry; an antenna embedded in a dielectric compartment; circuitry within the housing connected to the antenna for transmitting and receiving a modulated radio-frequency carrier at a specified carrier frequency; and
,an antenna tuning circuit for matching the impedance of the antenna to the transmitting/receiving circuitry at a specified carrier frequency by loading the antenna with inductance or capacitance and a transformer through which the antenna is connected to the transmitting/receiving circuitry for electrically isolating the transmitting/receiving circuitry from the housing, wherein the antenna tuning circuit further comprises a variable tuning capacitor for adjusting the resonant frequency of the antenna. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for transmitting and receiving radio-frequency signals in an implantable medical device, comprising:
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transmitting or receiving a modulated radio-frequency carrier at a specified carrier frequency to or from a helically coiled antenna; matching the impedance of the antenna to the transmitting/receiving circuitry at a specified carrier frequency by loading the antenna with inductance or capacitance using an antenna tuning circuit; and
,connecting the antenna to the transmitting/receiving circuitry though a transformer to electrically isolate the transmitting/receiving circuitry from a device housing. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An implantable medical device, comprising:
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a housing for containing electronic circuitry; control circuitry electrically connected to one or more electrodes adapted for disposition in a patient'"'"'s body by one or more therapy leads a helical antenna embedded in a dielectric compartment; circuitry within the housing connected to the antenna for transmitting and receiving a modulated radio-frequency carrier at a specified carrier frequency; and
,wherein the helical antenna is embedded within a header of the device coiled around a bore into which an end of a therapy lead is inserted. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification