Electrode lead, implant, and method for identifying an electrode lead

A method for identifying an electrode lead by means of an implant, the electrode lead comprising:

• a plug for connecting to the implant,
• at least one electrical conductor,
• an insulating tube that insulates the at least one electrical conductor, and
• a hermetically sealed passive RFID label embedded:
• in the insulating tube, and/or
• in the plug, or
• in an insulating body of a separate additional part that is connectable to the insulating tube or the plug, preferably in a positive fit,
• wherein the RFID label has an RFID chip and an inlay antenna connected in an electrically conducting manner to the RFID chip,
• wherein the inlay antenna is electromagnetically coupled to the at least one electrical conductor and the communication antenna,
• wherein the implant has a control device and an communication antenna connected to the control device, and
• wherein the implant is connected to the electrode lead,
• the method comprising the following steps:
• transmitting an electromagnetic query signal using the electrical conductor to be read and the communication antenna, wherein the query signal is configured such that the communication antenna and the electrical conductor together are operated as a bipolar antenna, wherein the query signal is produced by the control device connected to the electrical conductor to be read and the communication antenna;
• activating the RFID label by receiving the query signal by means of the inlay antenna of the RFID label and forwarding the received query signal to the RFID chip;
• processing the received query signal using the RFID chip, producing a corresponding electromagnetic reply signal using the RFID chip, and transmitting the reply signal by means of the inlay antenna of the RFID label;
• receiving the reply signal using the bipolar antenna comprising the communication antenna and the electrical conductor of the electrode lead to be read;
• and,
• processing the received reply signal forwarded to the control device in the control device.