Surgery: light – thermal – and electrical application – Light – thermal – and electrical application – Electrical therapeutic systems
Reexamination Certificate
2001-01-16
2004-01-06
Evanisko, George R. (Department: 3762)
Surgery: light, thermal, and electrical application
Light, thermal, and electrical application
Electrical therapeutic systems
C607S036000, C607S060000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06675045
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention pertains to implantable medical devices such as cardiac pacemakers and implantable cardioverter/defibrillators. In particular, the invention relates to an apparatus and method for enabling radio-frequency telemetry in such devices.
BACKGROUND
Implantable medical devices, including cardiac rhythm management devices such as pacemakers and implantable cardioverter/defibrillators, typically have the capability to communicate data with a device called an external programmer via a radio-frequency telemetry link. A clinician may use such an external programmer to program the operating parameters of an implanted medical device. For example, the pacing mode and other operating characteristics of a pacemaker are typically modified after implantation in this manner. Modern implantable devices also include the capability for bidirectional communication so that information can be transmitted to the programmer from the implanted device. Among the data which may typically be telemetered from an implantable device are various operating parameters and physiological data, the latter either collected in real-time or stored from previous monitoring operations.
Telemetry systems for implantable medical devices utilize radio-frequency energy to enable bidirectional communication between the implantable device and an external programmer. An exemplary telemetry system for an external programmer and a cardiac pacemaker is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,562,841, issued to Brockway et al. and assigned to Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc., the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. A radio-frequency carrier is modulated with digital information, typically by amplitude shift keying where the presence or absence of pulses in the signal constitute binary symbols or bits. The external programmer transmits and receives the radio signal with an antenna incorporated into a wand which can be positioned in proximity to the implanted device. The implantable device also generates and receives the radio signal by means of an antenna, typically formed by a wire coil wrapped around the periphery of the inside of the device casing.
In previous telemetry systems, the implantable device and the external programmer communicate by generating and sensing a modulated electromagnetic field in the near-field region with the antennas of the respective devices inductively coupled together. The wand must therefore be in close proximity to the implantable device, typically within a few inches, in order for communications to take place. This requirement is an inconvenience for a clinician and limits the situations in which telemetry can take place.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is an apparatus and method for enabling communications with an implantable medical device utilizing far-field electromagnetic radiation. Using far-field radiation allows communications over much greater distances than with inductively coupled antennas. In accordance with the invention, separate conductive portions of a housing for the implantable device act as a dipole antenna for radiating and receiving far-field radio-frequency radiation modulated with telemetry data. The antenna is dimensioned such that a substantial portion of the radio-frequency energy delivered to it at a specified frequency by a transmitter in the implantable device is emitted as far-field electromagnetic radiation. A tuning circuit may be used to tune the antenna by optimizing its impedance.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4230128 (1980-10-01), Aramayo
patent: 4556063 (1985-12-01), Thompson et al.
patent: 5113869 (1992-05-01), Nappholz et al.
patent: 5127404 (1992-07-01), Wyborny et al.
patent: 5314453 (1994-05-01), Jeutter
patent: 5337756 (1994-08-01), Barbier et al.
patent: 5342408 (1994-08-01), deCoriolis et al.
patent: 5562713 (1996-10-01), Silvian
patent: 5683432 (1997-11-01), Goedeke et al.
patent: 5697088 (1997-12-01), Gu
patent: 5697958 (1997-12-01), Paul et al.
patent: 5735887 (1998-04-01), Barreras, Sr. et al.
patent: 5861019 (1999-01-01), Sun et al.
patent: 5862803 (1999-01-01), Besson et al.
patent: 5957854 (1999-09-01), Besson et al.
patent: 5999857 (1999-12-01), Weijand et al.
patent: 6009350 (1999-12-01), Renken
patent: 6115636 (2000-09-01), Ryan
patent: 6169925 (2001-01-01), Villaseca et al.
patent: 6252460 (2001-06-01), Ito
patent: 2002/0042637 (2002-04-01), Stover
Mass William R.
Von Arx Jeffrey A.
Cardiac Pacemakers Inc.
Evanisko George R.
Schwegman Lundberg Woessner & Kluth P.A.
LandOfFree
Split-can dipole antenna for an implantable medical device does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Split-can dipole antenna for an implantable medical device, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Split-can dipole antenna for an implantable medical device will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3244448