Intrabody network system

Abstract

The intrabody network system includes a first implantable medical device 1 including a first communication circuit 13 and a second implantable medical device 2 including a second communication circuit 23. The first communication circuit 13 and the second communication circuit 23 are configured to establish communication for transmitting a communication signal from the first implantable medical device 1 to the second implantable medical device 2 and / or from the second implantable medical device 2 to the first implantable medical device 1 when the first implantable medical device 1 and the second implantable medical device 2 are implanted. At least one of the first implantable medical device 1 and the second implantable medical device 2 includes an antenna device 15 configured to at least one of transmit and receive a communication signal in a first configuration state using a first directional radiation characteristic, a second configuration state using a second directional radiation characteristic different from the first directional radiation characteristic, and a third configuration state using a third directional radiation characteristic different from the first directional radiation characteristic and the second directional radiation characteristic.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates generally to an intrabody network system and a method for operating an intrabody network system. [Background technology]

[0002] This type of intrabody network system generally comprises a first implantable medical device and a second implantable medical device, in which the implantable medical devices communicate with each other, for example to exchange information about sensed cardiac signals, or to coordinate the operation of multiple implantable medical devices, for example to trigger the action of one implantable medical device by a sensed signal of another implantable medical device.

[0003] An implantable medical device of this kind can be, for example, a pacemaker, an implantable cardioverter defibrillator, a sensor device such as a biosensor for measuring blood pressure, or a recording device such as a loop recorder that is implanted subcutaneously within the patient.

[0004] For example, an implantable pacemaker may be subcutaneously implanted in a patient and may include electrode-bearing leads that extend from a generator unit of the pacemaker device into the patient's heart to provide pacing function, e.g., to the right ventricle of the heart, or may be designed as a leadless pacemaker that does not include leads and is implanted directly into the patient's heart, e.g., in the right ventricle, to provide pacing function.

[0005] Defibrillators may operate to monitor and treat potentially life-threatening arrhythmias within a patient's heart. For example, this type of defibrillator may be implanted subcutaneously and may include leads that extend into the heart to record signals and to inject stimulation energy into the patient's heart to deliver, for example, an electric shock (defibrillation).

[0006] For example, sensor devices such as pressure sensors, flow sensors, temperature sensors, etc. may be implanted within blood vessels, such as veins, to provide monitoring of relevant parameters under conditions of providing therapy.

[0007] For example, a loop recorder may be implanted subcutaneously and serve to continuously record information about cardiac activity, such as an ECG, etc. The loop recorder may continuously loop through its memory and store certain portions of the signal, and thus communicate the recorded signal to an external device for analysis of the signal and providing a diagnosis.

[0008] It is desirable for medical devices implanted in a patient to be able to communicate with each other to enable interaction of the medical devices. For example, signals sensed by a pacemaker device or an implanted sensor device may be transmitted to a loop recorder so that the loop recorder may record such signals. Additionally, a pacemaker device may receive signals from a sensor device implanted remotely from the pacemaker device in order to take into account the sensed signals of the sensor device for the purpose of controlling the pacing action in the patient's heart.

[0009] To establish communication, approaches exist to create an intra-body network (IBN) that links the implanted medical devices together so that signals can be exchanged between them.

[0010] For example, EP2327609B1 describes an acoustic communication link between implanted medical devices for exchanging information between the implanted medical devices, which is established to enable wireless communication between the implanted medical devices, and transmission parameters such as sensitivity and carrier frequency can be adapted to improve an existing communication link.

[0011] Wireless communication between implanted medical devices may generally require acoustic, radio frequency (RF) modulated electric field or magnetic signals, where the signals are typically transmitted using a specific carrier frequency, with the transmission being initiated by one implanted medical device and received by another. When one medical device transmits a signal, it is necessary to ensure that the other medical device can receive said signal. Since implanted medical devices are generally small and therefore may only have simplified processing circuitry, the signals should be of low power consumption so as not to overtax the energy storage of the device if the implanted medical device cannot have extensive circuitry to establish communication.

[0012] US 2010 / 0022836(A1) discloses a multi-directional transmitter for an internal device, such as an implantable or indigestible device, capable of transmitting an identification signal in at least two different directions.

[0013] US 2011 / 0087114(A1) discloses an implantable device that can sense and determine its own orientation and determine whether the implantable device has shifted away from its original or optimal position over time.

[0014] US 2016 / 0250483(A1) discloses an implantable device configured to be implanted in a patient's body, the implantable device including a control unit configured to adjust a communication frequency, a housing formed of an electrically common material, and an insulating cover connected to the housing. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0015] [Patent Document 1] European Patent No. 2327609B1 [Patent Document 2] US Patent No. 2010 / 0022836(A1) [Patent Document 3] US Patent No. 2011 / 0087114(A1) [Patent Document 4] US Patent No. 2016 / 0250483(A1) Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0016] It is an object of the present invention to provide an intrabody network system and a method for operating an intrabody network system that enables reliable and power-efficient communication between implantable medical devices. [Means for solving the problem]

[0017] In one aspect, an intrabody network system includes a first implantable medical device including a first communication circuit and a second implantable medical device including a second communication circuit, the first communication circuit and the second communication circuit configured to establish communications for transmitting communication signals from the first implantable medical device to the second implantable medical device and / or from the second implantable medical device to the first implantable medical device while the first implantable medical device and the second implantable medical device are in an implanted state, and at least one of the first implantable medical device and the second implantable medical device includes an antenna device configured to at least one of transmit and receive communication signals in a first configuration state using a first directional radiation characteristic and a second configuration state using a second directional radiation characteristic different from the first directional radiation characteristic.

[0018] Furthermore, at least one of the first implantable medical device and the second implantable medical device comprises an antenna device capable of transmitting and / or receiving communication signals along different directions. To this end, the antenna device uses a first directional radiation characteristic in a first configuration state and a second directional radiation characteristic in a second configuration state. A directional radiation characteristic in this context should be understood as a radiation pattern for an antenna device, such as an electromagnetic antenna device, that is generally three-dimensional, but directional in transmitting and / or receiving signals preferentially along a specified direction or within a specified plane. Thus, the antenna device transmits signals with maximum amplitude and has maximum sensitivity upon reception in a specified direction or within a specified plane.

[0019] The antenna device may be switched between a first configuration state and a second configuration state so that different directional radiation characteristics are used. Thus, the antenna device may transmit and / or receive signals with a particular associated directional characteristic by using the first configuration state or the second configuration state. By selecting a configuration state appropriate for communication with a particular other implantable medical device, reliable communication may be established in that a configuration state may be selected that transmits or receives signals with a particular directional characteristic appropriate for communication with the other implantable medical device.

[0020] The antenna apparatus is configured to communicate using at least a first configuration state and a second configuration state, however, more than two configuration states may be available as well (e.g., a third configuration state), such that the antenna apparatus may use other additional configuration states for communication with the implantable medical device.

[0021] The intrabody network system comprises at least two implantable medical devices. However, more than two implantable medical devices may also be used in the intrabody network system. For communication between a particular pair of implantable medical devices, a particular configuration state of the antenna device of at least one of the implantable medical devices may be used.

[0022] Within a particular implantable medical device, different configuration states of the antenna arrangement may be used to communicate with different implantable medical devices, and thus the implantable medical device may choose an available communication state for communicating with a particular one of a plurality of other implantable medical devices.

[0023] Within the intrabody network system, one (only) or some of the implantable medical devices may be equipped with an antenna device having different configuration states, while other implantable medical devices do not have such an antenna device, however, in an advantageous embodiment, each implantable medical device of the intrabody network is equipped with an antenna device having multiple configuration states for communicating with other implantable medical devices.

[0024] Additionally or alternatively, at least one of the first implantable medical device and the second implantable medical device may include an antenna apparatus configured to at least one of transmit and receive communication signals in a first configuration state using a first directional radiation characteristic, a second configuration state using a second directional radiation characteristic that is different from the first directional radiation characteristic, and a third configuration state using a third directional radiation characteristic that is different from the first directional radiation characteristic and the second directional radiation characteristic.

[0025] In one embodiment, the antenna arrangement is configured to transmit and / or receive communication signals primarily along a first communication plane in a first configuration state and primarily along a second communication plane in a second configuration state, the communication planes being different from each other and may for example be arranged at a perpendicular angle or at another angle inclined relative to each other.

[0026] If there are three or more configuration states (e.g., three communication states), three or more communication planes (e.g., three communication planes) may be associated with different configuration states, the communication planes being different from each other and a particular communication plane being associated with a particular one of the configuration states of the antenna device.

[0027] Thus, in one embodiment, the antenna arrangement is configured to transmit and / or receive communication signals primarily along a first communication surface in a first configuration state, primarily along a second communication surface in a second configuration state, and primarily along a third communication surface in a third configuration state.

[0028] In one embodiment, the antenna device comprises at least three antenna elements and is configured to use a first set of at least three antenna elements in a first configuration state and a second set of at least three antenna elements in a second configuration state. For example, the antenna device may comprise (much) more than three antenna elements, such as five, six, ten or more, or even twenty or more antenna elements. By selecting a particular set of antenna elements for communication, a particular directional radiation characteristic may be established for communicating (i.e., at least one of transmitting and / or receiving) signals with another implantable medical device in the intrabody network system.

[0029] Additionally or alternatively, the antenna apparatus is configured to use a first set of at least three antenna elements in a first configuration state, a second set of at least three antenna elements in a second configuration state, and a third set of at least three antenna elements in a third configuration state.

[0030] In one embodiment, one of the at least three antenna elements is formed by an electrode for emitting or receiving (mainly) electrical signals, in particular RF signals or modulated electric field signals.

[0031] Such an electrode may be, for example, a dedicated electrode acting solely to establish communication, hi another embodiment, the electrode may be a sensing electrode for sensing intracardiac signals, such that the sensing electrode is used both for sensing signals and for communicating signals with another implantable medical device in the intrabody network system.

[0032] In one embodiment, at least one of the at least three antenna elements is formed by a coil for emitting or receiving (mainly) magnetic signals, so that communication with another implantable medical device can be established by using magnetic signals.

[0033] In one embodiment, an implantable medical device having an antenna arrangement includes a housing, and at least one of the at least three antenna elements is disposed on the housing. The antenna element may be a dedicated antenna element serving to establish communication. However, the antenna element disposed on the housing may also serve additional functions, for example, for sensing cardiac signals, such as when it is a sensing electrode for sensing intracardiac electrical signals.

[0034] Herein, multiple antenna elements may be placed at different locations on the housing By choosing sets of antenna elements, different directional radiation characteristics may thus be established, as determined by the sets of antenna elements and their physical locations on the implantable medical device.

[0035] In one embodiment, the implantable medical device having an antenna arrangement comprises a fixation device including at least one fixation element. This type of fixation element has, for example, the shape of a bendable tine, made of a shape memory alloy material, for example Nitinol, and can be brought into engagement with tissue to establish fixation of the implantable medical device to tissue, for example intracardiac tissue. In another embodiment, the fixation element has, for example, the shape of a screw, for fixing the implantable medical device to tissue, for example intracardiac tissue.

[0036] Herein, at least one of the at least three antenna elements is mounted on at least one fixing element, such as a tine or screw. Herein, the fixing element, which may be made, for example, from a conductive material, may collectively form the antenna element. In another embodiment, one or more antenna elements (e.g., in the form of electrodes) may be mounted on the fixing element and may be electrically isolated from one another such that they may be excited substantially independently of one another.

[0037] In one embodiment, at least one of the first communication circuit and the second communication circuit is configured to, in an initial stage, perform at least one of transmitting and receiving a communication signal using a first configuration state and a second configuration state of the antenna device to select a configuration state from among the first configuration state and the second configuration state, and is configured to use the selected configuration state for communication in an operational state.

[0038] In one embodiment, at least one of the first communication circuit and the second communication circuit is configured to, in an initial stage, select a configuration state from among the first configuration state, the second configuration state, and the third configuration state, and to perform at least one of transmitting and receiving a communication signal by sequentially using the first configuration state, the second configuration state, and the third configuration state of the antenna device.

[0039] Thus, at an initial stage, for example following implantation of the implantable medical devices of the intrabody network system in the patient's body, an initial communication between the implantable medical devices is established. For this purpose, the implantable medical device may scan the available configuration states in order to establish which configuration state is optimal for communication with another implantable medical device. Once the best configuration state is identified, during actual operation this selected configuration state may be used for communication with a particular other implantable medical device, where different configuration states may be selected for communication with different implantable medical devices, such that a particular configuration state may be chosen as optimal for communication with a particular other implantable medical device.

[0040] A scan of the different available configuration states (e.g., two or three) is preferably performed sequentially, such that the antenna arrangement is used sequentially in the different configuration states to identify the optimal configuration state for communicating with another implantable medical device.

[0041] In one embodiment, at least one of the first implantable medical device and the second implantable medical device is a cardiac stimulation device, such as a pacemaker device or a defibrillator.

[0042] In one embodiment, at least one of the first implantable medical device and the second implantable medical device is a leadless cardiac stimulation device, which is a cardiac stimulation device that does not have leads carrying electrodes. This type of leadless cardiac stimulation device can be implanted directly in the patient's heart, for example in the right ventricle or right atrium.

[0043] Generally, one or more implantable medical devices of the intracorporeal network system may be implanted subcutaneously or directly into the patient's heart. For example, in one embodiment, one implantable medical device is implanted in the right ventricle of the patient's heart and another implantable medical device is implanted in the right atrium, and communication is established between the intracardiac implantable medical devices in the intracorporeal network system.

[0044] In one embodiment, at least one of the first implantable medical device and the second implantable medical device is a subcutaneous cardiac loop recorder or a biosensor for measuring blood pressure.

[0045] Generally, within an intrabody network system, implantable medical devices, for example in the form of stimulating devices, sensing devices, recording devices or marking devices, may communicate with each other using antenna devices having different configuration states.

[0046] In another aspect, a method for operating an intrabody network system includes using a first communication circuit of a first implantable medical device and a second communication circuit of a second implantable medical device to establish communications for transmitting communication signals from the first implantable medical device to the second implantable medical device and / or from the second implantable medical device to the first implantable medical device while the first implantable medical device and the second implantable medical device are implanted; and at least one of transmitting and receiving the communication signals using an antenna device of at least one of the first implantable medical device and the second implantable medical device, the antenna device configured in a first configuration state with a first directional radiation characteristic and a second configuration state with a second directional radiation characteristic different from the first directional radiation characteristic.

[0047] Additionally or alternatively, the antenna device is configured in a first configuration state using a first directional radiation characteristic, a second configuration state using a second directional radiation characteristic different from the first directional radiation characteristic, and a third configuration state using a third directional radiation characteristic different from the first directional radiation characteristic and the second directional radiation characteristic.

[0048] The advantages and advantageous embodiments explained above for the intrabody network system equally apply to the present method and in this respect reference is made to the above.

[0049] The various features and advantages of this invention can be more readily understood with reference to the following detailed description and the illustrative embodiments illustrated in the drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0050] [Figure 1] Schematic diagram of an intrabody network system of a medical device implanted in a patient. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of two medical devices between which a communication link for data communication between the medical devices is established. [Diagram 3]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an implantable medical device in the form of a leadless pacemaker device having an antenna arrangement for communicating with another implantable medical device, the antenna arrangement being in a first communication state. [Figure 4] 4 is a schematic diagram of the implantable medical device of FIG. 3 in a second communication state of the antenna arrangement. [Diagram 5] 11 is a schematic diagram of the implantable medical device in a third state of the antenna device. FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of an implantable medical device in the form of a leadless pacemaker device having an antenna arrangement in a first communication state of the antenna arrangement. [Figure 7] 7 is a schematic diagram of the implantable medical device of FIG. 6 in a second configuration state of the antenna arrangement. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0051] Next, embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, in which like reference numbers indicate similar structural elements, and in which:

[0052] It should be noted that the examples are not limiting of the invention but merely provide illustrative examples.

[0053] Referring to FIG. 1 , implantable medical devices 1, 2, 3 may be implanted in a patient at different locations to provide different functions within the patient's body. For example, a first implantable medical device 1 in the form of a leadless pacemaker device may be implanted in the right ventricle RV of the patient's heart to provide pacing action within the heart H. Another or second implantable medical device 2 in the form of, for example, a loop recorder may be implanted subcutaneously in the chest, which can record signals and communicate, for example, with an external device, to monitor certain parameters within the patient's body. Another or third implantable medical device 3 in the form of a sensor device, for example a pressure sensor, flow sensor, temperature sensor, etc., may be implanted, for example, in a blood vessel to sense a characteristic parameter such as blood pressure or blood flow.

[0054] Generally, it is desirable to have data communication between the different medical devices 1, 2, 3 implanted in a patient. There are ways to establish this kind of communication in wireless form by establishing an intrabody network system linking the medical devices 1, 2, 3 together, in such a way that data can be exchanged between the medical devices 1, 2, 3. Thus, a loop recorder may record for example sensor data of a sensor device or data of a pacemaker or defibrillator and provide the data to the pacemaker or defibrillator for example to control the action of a therapy.

[0055] To enable data communication, a communication link needs to be established between the medical devices 1, 2, 3. Herein, signals are exchanged in modulated form using a specific transmission technique, such as acoustic, radio frequency (RF) modulated electric field or magnetic (inductive) signal transmission, and a specific modulation scheme, such as PCM, FSK, PSK, QPSK, FM, or AM modulation. Regardless of the specific transmission technique, the transmission is generally performed by employing a carrier frequency, which must be matched between the communicating medical devices 1, 2, 3 in order to establish a reliable communication link.

[0056] Referring now to FIG. 2, medical devices 1, 2 to be implanted in a patient may have a small build and may be designed with low power consumption in order to remain in the patient's body for an extended period of time.

[0057] A first medical device 1, e.g., in the form of a leadless pacemaker, may herein comprise a housing 10, control circuitry 11, an electrode arrangement 12 for emitting stimulation signals and receiving sensing signals, a first communication circuitry 13, and an energy storage unit 14, e.g., in the form of a battery.

[0058] The second medical device 2, e.g. in the form of an implantable sensor device such as a pressure sensor or in the form of a loop recorder, may comprise a housing 20, a control circuit 21, a second communication circuit 23 and an energy storage unit 24, e.g. in the form of a battery.

[0059] The communication circuits 13, 23 comprise a transmitting unit 130, 230 and a receiving unit 131, 231, respectively. The communication circuits 13, 23 are designed for a specific transmission technology, i.e. for transmitting and receiving acoustic, radio frequency (RF) modulated electric field or magnetic signals, and are also designed to modulate the transmitting and receiving demodulation signals, respectively, to optimize the transmission parameters, amplify the received signals and process the signals in order to transfer the processed signals to the control circuits 11, 21 for analyzing and controlling the operation of the medical devices 1, 2.

[0060] Generally, in the intrabody network system as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 1, communication between implantable medical devices 1, 2, 3 is established by means of a communication link. For example, referring to Fig. 2, a communication link L is established between the medical devices 1, 2, for example upon initial power-up of one of the medical devices 1, 2 or after a sleep mode exists after a long duration of inactivity of the medical devices 1, 2. Herein, the medical device 1, 2 wishing to establish communication may emit a trigger signal, for example towards the other medical device 2, 1, indicating that the medical device 1 wishes to establish communication.

[0061] To enable communication between implantable medical devices 1, 2, 3 in an intrabody network system, it becomes necessary that a signal transmitted from one implantable medical device 1, 2, 3 can be received with sufficient signal quality by another implantable medical device 1, 2, 3. For this purpose, the signal can generally be transmitted by one implantable medical device using an antenna with a substantially omnidirectional radiation pattern, thus transmitting the signal similarly in all directions. Similarly, another implantable medical device can have an antenna with an omnidirectional radiation pattern for receiving the signal omnidirectionally. However, since it is desirable to transmit and receive signals in a directional manner in order to reduce energy consumption, it is proposed within this document to use an implantable medical device 1, 2, 3 with an antenna arrangement exhibiting directional radiation characteristics. In that way, directional communication can be established between a pair of implantable medical devices 1, 2, 3.

[0062] 3 to 5, in one embodiment, the implantable medical device 1 may include an antenna arrangement 15 having antenna elements 152, 153 physically located at different locations on the implantable medical device 1.

[0063] For example, a first antenna element may be formed by an electrode at a distal end of the housing 10 of the implantable medical device serving as a sensing electrode for sensing intracardiac signals. Another antenna element 151 may be formed by an electrode at the opposite proximal end of the housing 10. Yet another antenna element 152 may be mounted on a fixation element 160 of the fixation device 16 for fixing the implantable medical device 1 to tissue in the implanted state. And yet another antenna element 153 may be mounted on another fixation element 161 of the fixation device 16.

[0064] For example, the fixing elements 160, 161 may be formed by bendable tines, for example tines made of a shape memory alloy such as Nitinol. Herein, the antenna elements 152, 153 may be formed as a whole by the fixing elements 160, 161, which may be made of a conductive material for this purpose. In another embodiment, one or more antenna elements 152, 153, for example in the form of electrodes, may be arranged in an electrically insulated form on each fixing element 160, 161. In that way, one of the antenna elements 152, 153 of the fixing elements 160, 161 may operate substantially independently of the other.

[0065] When communicating with another implantable medical device 2, 3, in this embodiment different pairs of antenna elements 152, 153 may be used to establish different configuration states having different directional communication characteristics for transmitting and receiving the main electric field E as shown in Figures 3 to 5.

[0066] 3, in which antenna elements 150, 151 are used for transmitting and / or receiving a signal E, the antenna arrangement 15 in this configuration exhibits a directional radiation characteristic with a main radiation along the communication plane C1, which means that within the communication plane C1 the signal amplitude is maximum when transmitting and the sensitivity is maximum when receiving.

[0067] In the illustrated embodiment, the directional radiation characteristics in the configuration state of FIG. 3 may be rotationally symmetric here, such that omnidirectional transmission and reception may be achieved within the communication plane C1 shown in FIG.

[0068] In another configuration, as shown in Fig. 4, the antenna element 151 at the proximal end of the housing 10 and the antenna element 152 on the fixed element 160 of the fixed device 16 are used in combination for communication. In this configuration, signals are transmitted and / or received along a communication plane C2, which may have a certain directivity to achieve directional transmission to and / or directional reception from the side towards which the fixed element 160 extends from the housing 10, as shown in Fig. 4.

[0069] In another configuration, the antenna element 151 at the proximal end of the housing 10 and the antenna element 153 of the fixed element 161 may be used for transmission and / or reception.

[0070] In yet another configuration, antenna elements 152, 153 mounted on fixed elements 160, 161 may be used for transmission and / or reception to obtain a directional radiation characteristic for primary transmission and / or primary reception along the communication plane C3.

[0071] In yet another configuration, three or more of the antenna elements 150 through 153 may be used in combination to transmit and / or receive signals.

[0072] When communicating with a particular one of the other implantable medical devices 2, 3, one of the configuration states may be selected, in particular the configuration state that allows directional signal transmission to or reception from the particular other implantable medical device 2, 3. The selection of the configuration state may be performed at an initial stage. During the initial stage, the implantable medical device 1 may scan the available configuration states and identify the configuration state that allows the most efficient communication. Once the optimal configuration state is identified, that configuration state is selected for further communication with the particular implantable medical device 2, 3, so that in a later operation, communication may be established using the selected configuration state.

[0073] If a degradation in communication quality is detected during operation, a new initialization phase can be initiated in order to identify a new optimal configuration state, for example to adjust for misalignment of the implantable medical devices 1, 2, 3 within the patient's body.

[0074] In the embodiment of FIGS. 3 to 5, the antenna elements 150 to 153 may have the shape of electrodes primarily for transmitting and receiving the electrical signal E.

[0075] 6 and 7, in another embodiment, the implantable medical device 1 may comprise antenna elements 154, 155 in the form of magnetic coils. Each antenna element 154, 155 may be formed, for example, by a coil element formed by a winding or by a coil element formed on a printed circuit board. The antenna elements 154, 155 may be located within the housing 10 and are configured to primarily transmit and / or receive magnetic signals generating a main magnetic field M.

[0076] Herein, in a first configuration state (FIG. 6), the antenna elements 154, 155 are arranged such that the transmission and / or reception of signals by means of the antenna element 154 is established mainly along a communication plane C4. By contrast, in a second configuration state (FIG. 7), the antenna elements 154, 155 are arranged such that the transmission and / or reception of signals by means of the antenna element 155 is established mainly along a perpendicular communication plane C5. The resulting radiation pattern here may be rotationally symmetric in each case.

[0077] Using the different configuration states in the embodiment of Figures 6 and 7, communication can be established to different implantable medical devices 2, 3 and, as previously explained, for example an optimal configuration state can be chosen at an initial stage.

[0078] The implantable medical devices 1, 2, 3 in the intrabody network system may be, for example, cardiac stimulation devices such as leadless pacemaker devices or defibrillators, sensing devices such as biosensors for sensing, for example, blood pressure, or recording devices such as loop recorders.

[0079] In general, the implantable medical devices 1, 2, 3 may be fully or partially implanted directly into the patient's heart, for example in the right ventricle or right atrium. In another embodiment, the implantable medical devices 1, 2, 3 may be fully or partially implanted subcutaneously in the patient. [Explanation of symbols]

[0080] 1, 2, 3 Implantable Medical Devices 10, 20 Case 11, 21 Control circuit 12 Electrode device 13, 23 Communication circuits 130, 230 sending unit 131, 231 receiving unit 14, 24 Energy storage unit 15 Antenna equipment 150~155 Antenna elements 16 Fixation device 160, 161 Fixed elements C1~C5 Communication side E Main electric field H Heart L Communication Link M main magnetic field RV right ventricle

Claims

1. a first implantable medical device (1) including a first communication circuit (13); a second implantable medical device (2) including a second communication circuit (23); Equipped with the first communication circuit (13) and the second communication circuit (23) are configured to establish communication for transmitting a communication signal from the first implantable medical device (1) to the second implantable medical device (2) and / or from the second implantable medical device (2) to the first implantable medical device (1) in an implanted state of the first implantable medical device (1) and the second implantable medical device (2), At least one of the first implantable medical device (1) and the second implantable medical device (2) includes an antenna device (15) configured to perform at least one of transmission and reception of a communication signal in a first configuration state using a first directional radiation characteristic, a second configuration state using a second directional radiation characteristic different from the first directional radiation characteristic, and a third configuration state using a third directional radiation characteristic different from the first directional radiation characteristic and the second directional radiation characteristic. Internal body network system.

2. The intrabody network system of claim 1, wherein the antenna device (15) is configured to transmit and receive at least one of communication signals primarily along a first communication plane (C1, C4) in the first configuration state, primarily along a second communication plane (C3, C5) in the second configuration state, and primarily along a third communication plane in the third configuration state.

3. 3. The intrabody network system of claim 2, wherein the first communication plane (C1, C4) and the second communication plane (C3, C5) are oriented perpendicular to each other.

4. The intrabody network system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the antenna device (15) comprises at least three antenna elements (150-155) and is configured to use a first set of the at least three antenna elements (150-155) in the first configuration state, to use a second set of the at least three antenna elements (150-155) in the second configuration state, and to use a third set of the at least three antenna elements (150-155) in the third configuration state.

5. 5. The intrabody network system according to claim 4, wherein at least one of the at least three antenna elements (150-155) is formed by an electrode for emitting or receiving an electrical signal.

6. 6. The intrabody network system according to claim 5, wherein the electrodes are formed by sensing electrodes for sensing intracardiac signals.

7. 5. The intrabody network system according to claim 4, wherein at least one of the at least three antenna elements (150-155) is formed by a coil for emitting or receiving a magnetic signal.

8. The intrabody network system of claim 4, wherein the at least one of the first implantable medical device (1) and the second implantable medical device (2) comprises a housing (10, 20), and at least one of the at least three antenna elements (150-155) is installed on the housing (10, 20).

9. The intrabody network system of claim 4, wherein the at least one of the first implantable medical device (1) and the second implantable medical device (2) comprises a fixation device (16) including at least one fixation element (160, 161) for establishing fixation to tissue, and at least one of the at least three antenna elements (150-155) is installed on the at least one fixation element (160, 161).

10. 2. The intrabody network system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first communication circuit (13) and the second communication circuit (23) is configured to perform at least one of transmitting and receiving a communication signal using the first configuration state, the second configuration state, and the third configuration state of the antenna device (15) in an initial stage to select a configuration state from among the first configuration state, the second configuration state, and the third configuration state, and is configured to use the selected configuration state for communication in an operational state.

11. The intrabody network system of claim 10, wherein at least one of the first communication circuit (13) and the second communication circuit (23) is configured to perform at least one of transmitting and receiving a communication signal by sequentially using the first configuration state, the second configuration state, and the third configuration state of the antenna device (15) in order to select a configuration state from among the first configuration state, the second configuration state, and the third configuration state during the initial stage.

12. The intrabody network system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first implantable medical device (1) and the second implantable medical device (2) is a cardiac stimulation device.

13. 2. The intrabody network system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first implantable medical device (1) and the second implantable medical device (2) is a leadless cardiac stimulation device.

14. 2. The intrabody network system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first implantable medical device (1) and the second implantable medical device (2) is a subcutaneous cardiac loop recorder or a biosensor for measuring blood pressure.

15. using a first communication circuit (13) of a first implantable medical device (1) and a second communication circuit (23) of a second implantable medical device (2) for establishing communication for transmitting communication signals from the first implantable medical device (1) to the second implantable medical device (2) and / or from the second implantable medical device (2) to the first implantable medical device (1) in an implanted state of the first implantable medical device (1) and the second implantable medical device (2); performing at least one of transmitting and receiving a communication signal using an antenna device (15) of at least one of the first implantable medical device (1) and the second implantable medical device (2), the antenna device (15) being configured in a first configuration state using a first directional radiation characteristic, a second configuration state using a second directional radiation characteristic different from the first directional radiation characteristic, and a third configuration state using a third directional radiation characteristic different from the first directional radiation characteristic and the second directional radiation characteristic; 23. A method for operating an intrabody network system, comprising:

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