System for locating implantable medical device
US6009878A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 2, 1998 |
| Grant date | Jan 4, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 2, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61M2209/045
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A system and method for locating an implantable medical device. The system consists of a flat "pancake" antenna coil positioned concentric with the implantable medical device target, e.g. the drug reservoir septum. The system further features a three location antenna array which is separate from the implantable device and external to the patient. The antenna array features three or more separate antennas which are used to sense the energy emitted from the implanted antenna coil. The system further features a processor to process the energy ducted by the antenna array. The system senses the proximity to the implant coil and, thus, the implant device by determining when an equal amount of energy is present in each of the antennas of the antenna array and if each such ducted energy is greater than a predetermined minimum. When such a condition is met, the antenna array is aligned with the implant coil. Thus the needle port through the antenna array is lined up with the septum of the drug reservoir. Alternative embodiments are further disclosed in which the processor and antenna array are positioned within the implanted device while the coil is external to the patient.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.