Compact and conformal telemetry antennas for implantable medical devices

US7467014B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Medtronic, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Christopher Fuller · Bloomington, US
• William D. Verhoef · Andover, US
• Gregory J. Haubrich · Champlin, US
• Javaid Masoud · Shoreview, US
• George C. Rosar · Minneapolis, US
• Garry L. Dublin · Maple Grove, US
• Piotr Przybyszewski · San Jose, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 28, 2005
• Grant date: Dec 16, 2008
• Expiry date: Feb 10, 2026

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61N1/37229
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An implantable medical device (“IMD”) configured in accordance with an example embodiment of the invention generally includes a housing, a connector header block coupled to the housing, a dielectric sheath located around at least a portion of the housing and/or around at least a portion of the header block, and a telemetry antenna located within the dielectric sheath. The antenna is configured to support far field telemetry with an external device such as a programmer. In one example embodiment, the antenna is configured as a balanced antenna having two separate antenna elements driven 180 degrees out of phase. Each of the antenna elements has a feed point on a perimeter edge of the IMD housing and a floating endpoint. A number of alternate embodiments are also provided.