Circuit board construction for handheld programmer

• US 7,729,766 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2003
• Issued: 06/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Toy, Alex C., Phillips, William C., Forsberg, John W., Olson, David P., Schommer, Mark E., Lewis, Charles R. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno; Carl H
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOLMES, REX R
• Application Number:
  US10/693,011
• Publication Number:
  US 20050075689A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,412 Days
• Field of Search: 607/60, 607 30- 32, 607/36, 607/59, 128/903, 128/904
• US Class Current: 607/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37229 Shape or location of the implanted or external antenna
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37235 Aspects of the external programmer

Abstract

In general, the disclosure is directed to a patient programmer for an implantable medical device. The patient programmer may include one or more of a variety of features that may enhance performance, support mobility and compactness, or promote patient convenience. The patient programmer includes an internal antenna mounted on a first circuit board and a display mounted on a second circuit board. The first circuit board includes a substantially contiguous around plane layer that is interrupted by two or more gaps. The patient programmer may also include one or more of a variety of features that may enhance performance, support mobility and compactness, or promote patient convenience.

Claims

1. A programmer for an implantable medical device, the programmer comprising:

a programmer housing;

an internal antenna mounted on a first circuit board within the programmer housing; and

a display device mounted on a second circuit board within the programmer housing,

wherein the first circuit board includes a substantially contiguous ground plane layer interrupted by a plurality of gaps, and

wherein the first circuit board includes an electrostatic discharge layer defining a peripheral conductive layer and a central aperture.

2. The programmer of claim 1, wherein the gaps divide the ground plane layer into a plurality of interconnected conductive ground plane regions.

3. The programmer of claim 1, wherein the gaps divide adjacent ground plane regions to disrupt flow of eddy currents within the ground plane layer.

4. The programmer of claim 1, wherein each of the gaps extends outward from a central region of the ground plane layer.

5. The programmer of claim 1, wherein the internal antenna defines an aperture, and the central aperture of the electrostatic discharge layer substantially approximates a size and shape of the aperture of the antenna.

6. The programmer of claim 1, wherein the electrostatic discharge layer is a first electrostatic discharge layer formed on a first side of the ground plane layer, the programmer further comprising a second electrostatic discharge layer formed on a second side of the ground plane layer.

7. The programmer of claim 6, wherein the second electrostatic discharge layer defines a second central aperture that substantially approximates a size and shape of the central aperture of the first electrostatic discharge layer.

8. The programmer of claim 1, wherein the antenna comprises a loop-like antenna shape that defines an aperture.

9. The programmer of claim 1, further comprising a battery bay formed within an aperture of the antenna.

10. The programmer of claim 1, wherein each of the gaps has a width in a range of approximately 0.2 to approximately 3.0 mm.

21. The programmer of claim 1, wherein the first circuit board and the second circuit board occupy different planes that are displaced from one another, wherein the internal antenna is mounted on a first side of the first circuit board, and the display device is mounted on a second side of the second circuit board facing away from the first circuit board.

23. The programmer of claim 1, wherein the programmer comprises analog electronics and digital electronics, wherein a first majority of the analog electronics is placed on the first circuit board and a second majority of the digital electronics is placed on the second circuit board.

11. A programmer for an implantable medical device, the programmer comprising:

a programmer housing;

an internal antenna mounted on a first circuit board within the programmer housing, wherein the internal antenna has a loop-like structure and defines a first aperture, and the first circuit board includes at least one signal plane with an electrostatic discharge layer defining a second aperture in substantially overlapping alignment with the first aperture; and

a display device mounted on a second circuit board within the programmer housing,

wherein the first circuit board includes a substantially contiguous ground plane layer interrupted by a plurality of gaps.

12. The programmer of claim 11, wherein the gaps divide the ground plane layer into a plurality of interconnected conductive ground plane regions.

13. The programmer of claim 11, wherein the gaps divide adjacent ground plane regions to disrupt flow of eddy currents within the ground plane layer.

14. The programmer of claim 11, wherein each of the gaps extends outward from a central region of the ground plane layer.

15. The programmer of claim 11, wherein the electrostatic discharge layer substantially approximates a size and shape of the first aperture of the internal antenna.

16. The programmer of claim 11, wherein the electrostatic discharge layer is a first electrostatic discharge layer formed on a first side of the ground plane layer, the programmer further comprising a second electrostatic discharge layer formed on a second side of the ground plane layer.

17. The programmer of claim 16, wherein the second electrostatic discharge layer defines a third aperture that substantially approximates a size and shape of the second aperture of the first electrostatic discharge layer.

18. The programmer of claim 11, further comprising a battery bay formed within the first aperture of the internal antenna.

19. The programmer of claim 11, wherein the first circuit board includes telemetry circuitry for communication with a medical device via the antenna.

20. The programmer of claim 11, wherein each of the gaps has a width in a range of approximately 0.2 to approximately 3.0 mm.

22. The programmer of claim 11, wherein the first circuit board and the second circuit board occupy different planes that are displaced from one another, wherein the internal antenna is mounted on a first side of the first circuit board, and the display device is mounted on a second side of the second circuit board facing away from the first circuit board.

24. The programmer of claim 11, wherein the programmer comprises analog electronics and digital electronics, wherein a first majority of the analog electronics is placed on the first circuit board and a second majority of the digital electronics is placed on the second circuit board.