System and method for communicating with a telemetric implant

• US 8,570,187 B2
• Filed: 09/05/2008
• Issued: 10/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smith & Nephew Incorporated (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Original Assignee: Smith & Nephew Incorporated (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Inventors: Janna, Sied W., Wilson, Darren James, Goodchild, Martin S., Brady, Peter A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai, Lam T
• Application Number:
  US12/675,826
• Publication Number:
  US 20110205083A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,880 Days
• Field of Search: 340/669, 340/318, 340/319, 340/870.16, 340/870.13, 340/870.18, 340/870.26, 340/870.07, 340/870.23, 340/870.04, 343/704, 343/713, 343/718, 343/788, 343/895, 607/61, 607/115, 375/150, 600/302, 600/407, 600/511, 600/595, 455/41.1, 455/98, 367/76, 367/79, 336/192, 336/197, 336/198
• US Class Current: 340/870.31
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0002 for data transfer
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3523 using telemetric means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37229 Shape or location of the implanted or external antenna
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2216 used in interrogator/reader equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/02 Collapsible antennas; Retractable antennas

Abstract

A telemetric system includes a telemetric implant, a reader unit adapted to read signals from the telemetric implant, and an antenna adapted for connection to the reader unit and to receive signals from the telemetric implant. The antenna has a first coil, a second coil, and a connector. The first coil is electrically connected to the second coil, and the connector allows for movement of the first and second coils relative to each other. The antenna may be used to send radio-frequency power to the telemetric implant and receives data from the telemetric implant.

Claims

1. A telemetric system comprising:

a. a telemetric implant;

b. a reader unit adapted to read signals from the telemetric implant;

c. an antenna adapted for connection to the reader unit and to receive signals from the telemetric implant, the antenna having a first coil, a second coil, and a connector, the first coil being electrically connected to the second coil, and the connector allowing for movement of the first and second coils relative to each other; and

d. a mounting assembly having a first portion and a second portion, the first coil mounted to the first portion and the second coil mounted to the second portion, the connector allowing movement of the first portion relative to the second portion.

2. The telemetric system of claim 1, wherein the antenna is configured such that movement of the first coil or the second coil changes a shape of a magnetic field produced by said coils.

3. The telemetric system of claim 1, wherein the antenna is configured such that movement of the first coil or the second coil causes the antenna to conform to a mammalian tissue surface.

4. The telemetric system of claim 1, wherein the antenna is configured to power and read data from the telemetric implant from an oblique angle with respect to the telemetric implant.

5. The telemetric system of claim 1, wherein the first coil and the second coil are housed in a flexible polymer.

6. The telemetric system of claim 1, wherein the first coil and the second coil are housed in a pouch.

7. The telemetric system of claim 1, further comprising a component selected from the group consisting of a computing device, a signal generator, a power supply, an audible feedback system, and a visual indicator.

8. The telemetric system of claim 1, further comprising at least one additional antenna coil.

9. The telemetric system of claim 1, wherein the antenna further comprises at least one ferrite component.

10. The telemetric system of claim 1, wherein the reader unit comprises a microcontroller, a coil driver and reader, a frequency counter, and an amplifier, and wherein the telemetric implant comprises a power supply circuit, an oscillator circuit, and a load modulator circuit.

11. The telemetric system of claim 1, wherein the antenna is configured to send radio-frequency power to the telemetric implant and to receive data from the telemetric implant.

12. The telemetric system of claim 1, wherein the connector comprises a hinge.

13. The telemetric system of claim 9, wherein the at least one ferrite component is located between the first coil and the second coil.

14. The telemetric system of claim 1, wherein the connector is configured to orient the first coil relative to the second coil such that the antenna conforms to a tissue surface covering the telemetric implant.

15. The telemetric system of claim 1, wherein the first coil and the second coil are movable to communicate with the telemetric implant from either (i) a parallel orientation with respect to the telemetric implant or (ii) an orthogonal orientation with respect to the telemetric implant.

16. A telemetric system comprising:

a telemetric implant comprising a power supply circuit, an oscillator circuit, and a load modulator circuit;

a reader unit adapted to read signals from the telemetric implant, the reader unit comprising a microcontroller, a coil driver and reader, a frequency counter, and an amplifier; and

an antenna adapted for connection to the reader unit and to receive signals from the telemetric implant, the antenna having a first coil, a second coil, and a connector, the first coil being electrically connected to the second coil, and the connector allowing for movement of the first and second coils relative to each other.

17. A telemetric system comprising:

a telemetric implant;

a reader unit adapted to read signals from the telemetric implant; and

an antenna adapted for connection to the reader unit and to receive signals from the telemetric implant, the antenna having a first coil, a second coil, and a connector, the first coil being electrically connected to the second coil, and the connector allowing for movement of the first and second coils relative to each other,

wherein the antenna is configured to send radio-frequency power to the telemetric implant and to receive data from the telemetric implant.