Method of producing an implantable medical device

A method for producing an implantable medical device (IMD), the method comprising:

• forming a channel along a surface of a housing of the IMD, the channel formed to have a shape of an antenna design;
• depositing a conductive material into the channel to at least partially fill the channel and adopt the shape of the channel, the conductive material forming an antenna of the IMD on the housing;
• and
• electrically connecting the antenna to communication circuitry contained within the housing to facilitate wireless communication with at least one of a second IMD or an external device, wherein the housing includes a header and a main body that contains a battery and an electronics module, and the method further comprises attaching the header to an end of the main body, wherein forming the channel along the surface of the housing comprises forming the channel along an outer surface of the main body.

An implantable medical device comprising:

• a housing that contains a battery and an electronics module, the housing defining a channel along an outer surface of the housing, the channel extending from a connection hole, the channel having a shape of an antenna design;
• an electrically insulative material deposited on the surface of the housing to encase the antenna;
• a pin electrically connected to communication circuitry of the electronics module, a tip of the pin positioned at the connection hole;
• and
• an antenna disposed within the channel along the outer surface of the housing and adopting the shape of the channel, the antenna electrically connected to the pin and configured to facilitate wireless communication with and at least one of a second IMD or an external device.