Telemetry for implantable devices using the body as an antenna
AssigneeMedtronic, Inc.
InventorTerence G. Ryan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A telemetry system and method includes an implantable medical device implanted in a body and an external communication device, e.g., a programmer. The implanted device includes a housing having transmitter/receiver circuitry positioned therein. The external communication device includes transmitter/receiver circuitry connected to an antenna thereof. The transmitter/receiver circuitry of the implanted device is electrically coupled to the body such that the body functions as an antenna for the implanted device to facilitate communication of data between the implanted device and the external communication device.
Claims65
An implantable medical device telemetry method, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing an implanted device in a body, the implanted device including a housing having a transmitter positioned therein, and a body antenna that optimally adapts the body for use as an antenna;
- providing communication device external to the body, the external communication device including at least a receiver connected to an antenna;
- providing an output signal generated by the transmitter into the body via the body antenna external to the housing of the implanted device, wherein the output signal is modulated to include data, and further wherein the modulated output signal is propagated by the body to radiate electromagnetic waves representative of the modulated output signal in a near-field communication volume surrounding the body;
- and
- receiving the radiated electromagnetic waves at the antenna of the external communication device when the antenna is positioned within the near-field communication volume and recovering the data therefrom by the receiver of the external communication device.
An implantable medical device telemetry method, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing an implanted device in a body, the implanted device including a housing having at least one of a transmitter and a receiver positioned within the housing;
- providing a communication device external to the body, the external communication device including at least one of a receiver and a transmitter connected to an antenna;
- and
- electrically coupling at least one of the transmitter and receiver of the implanted device to the body such that the body functions as an antenna for at least one of the transmitter and receiver of the implanted device to facilitate communication of data between the implanted device and the external communication device.
An implantable medical device for implantation within a body, the device comprising:
- a housing;
- at least one of a transmitter and receiver positioned within the housing operable for providing a modulated output signal or for receiving a modulated signal, respectively;
- a conductive element extending from an interior of the housing to a position external of the housing;
- and
- a matching network electrically coupling at least one of the transmitter and receiver to the conductive element, wherein the matching network is selected to match the impedance of the body.
An implantable medical device telemetry system, the system comprising:
- an external communication device, the external communication device including at least one of a receiver and a transmitter connected to an antenna;
- and
- an implantable medical device, the implantable medical device including a housing having at least one of a transmitter and a receiver positioned within the housing, the implantable device further including a coupling network for electrically coupling at least one of the transmitter and receiver of the implanted device to the body such that the body functions as an antenna for at least one of the transmitter and receiver of the implanted device to facilitate communication of data between the implanted device and the external communication device.
An implantable medical device transmission method, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing an implanted device in a body, the implanted device including a housing having at least a transmitter positioned within the housing;
- and
- generating electromagnetic waves in a communication volume surrounding the body, wherein the step of generating the electromagnetic waves includes the step of using the body as an antenna for the transmitter of the implanted device.
An implantable medical device for implantation within a body, the device comprising:
- a housing;
- transmission means positioned within the housing operable for providing a modulated output signal;
- and
- means for coupling the output signal into the body such that electromagnetic waves representative of the modulated output signal are transmitted into a communication volume surrounding the body when the implantable medical device is operable within the body.
An implantable medical device telemetry system comprising:
- a communication device external to a body;
- and
- an implantable device for implant in the body, the implantable device including a housing with a transmitter and a receiver positioned within the housing for facilitating communication with the external communication device using the body as an antenna for the transmitter and the receiver.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.