Diversity antennas for neurostimulator programming devices

• US 9,002,466 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2012
• Issued: 04/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cirtec Medical Corp.
• Original Assignee: Greatbatch Limited (Greatbatch Incorporated)
• Inventors: Trier, Stephen C., Yoder, Raymond Lloyd
• Primary Examiner(s): Schaetzle, Kennedy
• Application Number:
  US13/442,283
• Publication Number:
  US 20130268028A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,093 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 607/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37211 Means for communicating with stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37223 Circuits for electromagnetic coupling
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/243 with built-in antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/273 Adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0686 Hybrid systems, i.e. switching and simultaneous transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0868 Hybrid systems, i.e. switching and combining
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/12 Frequency diversity

Abstract

The present disclosure involves a programmer configured to program an implanted medical device. The programmer includes a circuit board and first and second wireless communication devices located on the circuit board. The first wireless communication device is configured to operate in a first frequency band. The second wireless communication device is configured to operate in a second frequency band different from the first frequency band. The first and second wireless communication devices are each configured to communicate wirelessly with the implanted medical device. The programmer includes a first group of antennas coupled to the first wireless communication device. The antennas in the first group have first different positions on the circuit board. The programmer includes a second group of antennas coupled to the second wireless communication device. The antennas in the second group have second different positions on the circuit board.

Claims

1. A programmer configured to program an implanted medical device, the programmer comprising:

a circuit board;

a first wireless communication device located on the circuit board, the first wireless communication device being configured to operate in a first frequency band;

a second wireless communication device located on the circuit board, the second wireless communication device being configured to operate in a second frequency band that is different from the first frequency band, wherein the first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device are each configured to communicate wirelessly with the implanted medical device;

a first group of antennas coupled to the first wireless communication device, wherein the antennas in the first group have first different positions on the circuit board; and

a second group of antennas coupled to the second wireless communication device, wherein the antennas in the second group have second different positions on the circuit board.

2. The programmer of claim 1, wherein the antennas in at least one of the first and second groups have different radiation patterns from the rest of the antennas in that group.

3. The programmer of claim 1, wherein the antennas in at least one of the first and second groups have different physical orientations from the rest of the antennas in that group.

4. The programmer of claim 1, wherein the antennas in the first group have physical differences from the antennas in the second group.

5. The programmer of claim 1, wherein:

each of the antennas in the first group has physical differences from other antennas in the first group; and

each of the antennas in the second group has physical differences from other antennas in the second group.

6. The programmer of claim 5, wherein the physical differences are with respect to size or shape of the antennas.

7. The programmer of claim 1, further comprising:

an input device configured to receive input from a user;

a processor configured to control the first wireless communication device and the second wireless communication device in response to the input; and

a display configured to display information to the user.

8. The programmer of claim 1, wherein:

the first wireless communication device is coupled to the first group of antennas through a first diversity switch; and

the second wireless communication device is coupled to the second group of antennas through a second diversity switch;

wherein the first and second diversity switches are each configured to couple the respective wireless communication device to a selected one of the antennas from the respective group.

9. The programmer of claim 1, wherein:

the programmer includes one of;

a clinician programmer and a patient programmer; and

the implanted medical device includes an implant pulse generator (IPG).

10. A medical system, comprising:

an implantable medical device; and

a controller configured to send wireless programming signals to the implantable medical device, the controller including an electronic circuit board on which a plurality of electronic components is implemented, wherein the electronic components include;

a first wireless communication device configured to operate in a first frequency band;

a first set of antennas coupled to the first wireless communication device and dedicated to the first frequency band, the first set of antennas having first diverse locations on the electronic circuit board;

a second wireless communication device configured to operate in a second frequency band different from the first frequency band; and

a second set of antennas coupled to the second wireless communication device and dedicated to the second frequency band, the second set of antennas having second diverse locations on the electronic circuit board.

11. The medical system of claim 10, wherein:

the antennas in the first set have diverse first radiation patterns from one another; and

the antennas in the second set have diverse second radiation patterns from one another.

12. The medical system of claim 10, wherein:

the antennas in the first set have diverse physical characteristics from one another; and

the antennas in the second set have diverse physical characteristics from one another.

13. The medical system of claim 12, wherein the physical characteristics include characteristics with respect to size, shape, or orientation of the antennas.

14. The medical system of claim 10, wherein the electronic components further comprise:

a first diversity switch configured to selectively couple the first wireless communication device to one of the antennas in the first set; and

a second diversity switch configured to selectively couple the second wireless communication device to one of the antennas in the second set.

15. The medical system of claim 10, wherein:

the implantable medical device includes a pulse generator that is configured to generate pulses to stimulate a body tissue; and

the controller includes a clinician programmer or a patient programmer.

16. The medical system of claim 10, wherein the controller includes an interface configured to receive input from a user and to display information to the user.

17. The medical system of claim 10, wherein:

the first wireless communication device is a wakeup transmitter;

the first frequency band is a 2.45 Giga-Hertz unlicensed band;

the second wireless communication device is a main transceiver; and

the second frequency band is a 403.5 Mega-Hertz MedRadio band.

18. An apparatus for controlling an implanted medical device, comprising:

a first communications means for performing electronic communication in a first frequency band with the implanted medical device;

a plurality of first diversity antennas for transmitting or receiving signals between the first communications means and the implanted medical device;

a second communications means for performing electronic communication in a second frequency band with the implanted medical device; and

a plurality of second diversity antennas for transmitting or receiving signals between the second communications means and the implanted medical device;

wherein;

the first diversity antennas have first diverse radiation patterns from one another;

the second diversity antennas have second diverse radiation patterns from one another;

the first and second diversity antennas are each implemented on a circuit board;

the first diversity antennas have first diverse positions on the circuit board; and

the second diversity antennas have second diverse positions on the circuit board.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first and second communications means each include a wireless transmitter.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first and second diversity antennas have diverse sizes.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first and second diversity antennas have diverse shapes.

22. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first and second diversity antennas have diverse orientations.

23. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising:

a first switching means for selectively coupling one of the first diversity antennas to the first communications means; and

a second switching means for selectively coupling one of the second diversity antennas to the second communications means.

24. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising:

an input means for receiving input from a user; and

a display means for displaying information to the user.

25. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein:

the implanted medical device is a neurostimulator; and

the apparatus is one of;

a clinician programmer or a patient programmer.

26. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein:

each of the first antennas has physical differences from the rest of the first antennas; and

each of the second antennas has physical differences from the rest of the second antennas.

27. A medical system, comprising:

a first telecommunications component implemented on a board, the first telecommunications component being configured to conduct telecommunications in a first frequency range;

a second telecommunications component implemented on the board, the second telecommunications component being configured to conduct telecommunications in a second frequency range that is different from the first frequency range, wherein the first telecommunications component and the second telecommunications component are each configured to wirelessly communicate with an implantable medical device;

a first group of antennas coupled to the first telecommunications component, wherein the antennas in the first group have first diverse positions on the board; and

a second group of antennas coupled to the second telecommunications component, wherein the antennas in the second group have second diverse positions on the board.

28. The medical system of claim 27, wherein:

the antennas in the first group each have a distinct radiation pattern;

or

the antennas in the second group each have a distinct radiation pattern.

29. The medical system of claim 27, wherein:

the antennas in the first group each have a distinct physical orientation;

or

the antennas in the second group each have a distinct physical orientation.

30. The medical system of claim 27, wherein:

each of the antennas in the first group has physical differences from other antennas in the first group; and

each of the antennas in the second group has physical differences from other antennas in the second group.

31. The medical system of claim 30, wherein the physical differences are with respect to a size or a shape of the antennas.

32. The medical system of claim 27, further comprising:

an input component configured to receive input from a user;

a controller configured to control the first telecommunications component and the second telecommunications component in response to the input; and

a display configured to convey visual information to the user.

33. The medical system of claim 27, further comprising:

a first diversity switch configured to couple the first telecommunications component to the first group of antennas; and

a second diversity switch configured to couple the second telecommunications component to the second group of antennas.

34. The medical system of claim 27, further comprising:

the implantable medical device.

35. The medical system of claim 34, wherein:

the implantable medical device includes an implantable pulse generator (IPG); and

the first and second telecommunications component s and the first and second groups of antennas are implemented within an electronic programmer configured to send programming instructions to the IPG.