Compact conformal antenna for an implanted medical device telemetry system

Abstract

A telemetry component according to an embodiment of the invention, such as a programmer or a monitor for an implantable medical device (“IMD”), includes at least one radio frequency (“RF”) antenna that is configured to accommodate far-field telemetry between the telemetry component and the IMD. The RF antenna is shaped, sized, positioned, and otherwise configured to account for surface current cancellation caused by induced surface current on an electrically conductive surface of the telemetry component.

1 . An implanted medical device (“IMD”) telemetry device comprising: 
 an electrically conductive structure;    an antenna located proximate to said electrically conductive structure; and    a receiver coupled to said antenna, said receiver being-configured to receive IMD signals via said antenna, said antenna being configured to account for surface current cancellation caused by induced surface current on said electrically conductive structure.    
   
   
       2 . An IMD telemetry device according to  claim 1 , wherein the position of said antenna is biased away from said electrically conductive structure.  
   
   
       3 . An IMD telemetry device according to  claim 1 , wherein the operating frequency band of said antenna is approximately 401-405 MHz.  
   
   
       4 . An IMD telemetry device according to  claim 1 , wherein said antenna comprises a solid wire monopole antenna structure.  
   
   
       5 . An IMD telemetry device according to  claim 1 , wherein said antenna comprises a folded monopole antenna structure having an input section, a first radiating section coupled to said input section, a second radiating section parallel to said first radiating section, and a bend section coupling said first radiating section to said second radiating section, said electrically conducting surface being located closer to said second radiating section than to said first radiating section.  
   
   
       6 . An IMD telemetry device according to  claim 1 , wherein said antenna comprises a planar inverted F-shaped antenna structure.  
   
   
       7 . An IMD telemetry device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a display element, wherein: 
 said electrically conducting structure comprises a casting for said display element, said casting having a perimeter; and    said antenna being routed around one of said perimeter and around a corner of said casting.    
   
   
       8 . An IMD telemetry device according to  claim 1 , wherein said antenna is shaped to be anti-parallel with features of said electrically conductive structure.  
   
   
       9 . An IMD telemetry device according to  claim 1 , further comprising an RF protection diode coupled to said antenna.  
   
   
       10 . An implanted medical device (“IMD”) telemetry device comprising: 
 a housing;    an electrically conductive structure contained in said housing;    a first antenna contained in said housing;    a second antenna contained in said housing; and    a transceiver coupled to said first antenna and coupled to said second antenna, said transceiver being configured to convey IMD signals via at least one of said first antenna and said second antenna, said first antenna and said second antenna each being configured to account for surface current cancellation caused by induced surface current on said electrically conducting structure.    
   
   
       11 . An IMD telemetry device according to  claim 10 , wherein the position of said first antenna is biased away from said electrically conducting structure, and the position of said second antenna is biased away from said electrically conducting structure.  
   
   
       12 . An IMD telemetry device according to  claim 10 , wherein at least one of said first antenna and said second antenna comprises a conductor attached to said housing.  
   
   
       13 . An IMD telemetry device according to  claim 10 , wherein at least one of said first antenna and said second antenna comprises a solid wire monopole antenna structure.  
   
   
       14 . An IMD telemetry device according to  claim 10 , further comprising a display element, wherein: 
 said electrically conducting structure comprises a casting for said display element, said casting having a perimeter;    said first antenna is routed around a first portion of said perimeter of said casting; and    said second antenna is routed around a second portion of said perimeter of said casting.    
   
   
       15 . A radio frequency (“RF”) antenna for an implanted medical device (“IMD”) telemetry device having electrically conductive structures, said antenna comprising a conformal radiating element shaped to account for surface current cancellation caused by induced surface current on the electrically conducting structures.  
   
   
       16 . An RF antenna according to  claim 15 , further comprising an RF connector coupled to said conformal radiating element, said RF connector being configured to establish RF coupling with an IMD signal transceiver.  
   
   
       17 . An RF antenna according to  claim 15 , wherein said conformal radiating element comprises a solid wire monopole structure.  
   
   
       18 . An RF antenna according to  claim 15 , wherein said conformal radiating element comprises a folded monopole structure having an input section, a first radiating section coupled to said input section, a second radiating section parallel to said first radiating section, and a bend section coupling said first radiating section to said second radiating section.  
   
   
       19 . An RF antenna according to  claim 15 , wherein said conformal radiating element is shaped to be anti-parallel with features of the electrically conductive structure.  
   
   
       20 . An RF antenna according to  claim 15 , further comprising an RF protection diode coupled to said conformal radiating element, said RF protection diode being configured to limit RF energy received by said RF antenna.