Telemetry antenna for an implantable medical device

US7016733B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Medtronic, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Garry L. Dublin · Maple Grove, US
• William D. Verhoef · Andover, US
• Rodney Wallace · Maple Grove, US
• Len D. Twetan · Excelsior, US
• Eugene Kuschnir · Forest Lake, US
• Gregory J. Haubrich · Champlin, US
• Piotr Przybyszewski · San Jose, US
• Christine G. Kronich · Windom, US
• Eduardo H. Villaseca · Minneapolis, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 23, 2003
• Grant date: Mar 21, 2006
• Expiry date: Aug 17, 2024

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61N1/37512
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Improved telemetry antennas and methods of fabrication for an implantable medical device (IMD) for use in uplink telemetry (UT) and downlink telemetry (DT) transmissions between the IMD and an external medical device (EMD) are disclosed. A first telemetry antenna element is supported to extend in a first direction along a minor side of the IMD housing by a first header segment, and a second antenna element is supported to extend in a second direction along a second minor side of the IMD housing by a second header segment. The first and second antenna elements are supported to extend apart at substantially 90° to one another, i.e., substantially orthogonally, in substantially a common plane to optimize UT transmission and DT reception of UHF telemetry signals by at least one of the first and second antenna elements depending upon the mutual spatial orientation with the antenna elements of an EMD antenna.