3D Meandering Antenna for Implantable Medical Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Implantable medical devices (IMDs) face challenges in designing compact antennas that provide effective communication while conforming to the small and complex structures within the body, requiring antennas that are both small and easy to manufacture.
Innovation Solution
A three-dimensional meandering or serpentine antenna design that includes segments arranged in multiple planes, allowing for improved performance and ease of manufacture, and can be easily conformed to the structure in which it is disposed, with a loading structure for impedance matching.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a compact antenna design is used to minimize device size, then the volumetric footprint is reduced, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from traditional planar (2D) antenna designs to three-dimensional (3D) meandering structures. This dimensional change allows the antenna to achieve compact volumetric footprint by utilizing vertical and spatial dimensions, while the meandering pattern maintains manufacturability through standardized fabrication processes. The 3D configuration enables better impedance matching and radiation characteristics in a smaller volume without significantly increasing manufacturing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The meandering antenna structure effectively nests multiple transmission path segments within a compact three-dimensional space. The antenna winding pattern allows successive segments to be positioned in adjacent spatial regions, creating a nested-like configuration that maximizes the electrical length within a minimal volumetric footprint while maintaining ease of manufacture through conventional patterning techniques.
2Ease of manufacture
If traditional planar antenna designs are used, then manufacturing is simpler, but the gain and communication performance are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent elevates the antenna design from two-dimensional planar configurations to three-dimensional meandering structures. This dimensional transition enhances radiation gain and communication performance by creating more effective current paths and radiation patterns, while the meandering geometry can still be manufactured using extended planar fabrication techniques, thus maintaining reasonable manufacturing simplicity.
3Reliability
If the antenna structure is made complex to improve performance, then the gain and radiation characteristics improve, but the device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The meandering antenna structure implements local quality variations through its winding pattern, where different segments of the antenna are positioned in specific three-dimensional locations to optimize current distribution and radiation characteristics. This localized structural complexity achieves improved radiation performance without requiring a proportional increase in overall device size, as the complexity is concentrated in the antenna pattern rather than the entire device volume.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 2A
AI summary
This disclosure is directed to a three-dimensional antenna that may be used for an implantable medical device (IMD). The antenna includes a first antenna portion that includes a plurality of segments arranged substantially parallel to one another in a first plane. The antenna further includes a second antenna portion that includes a plurality of segments arranged substantially parallel to one another in a second plane that is substantially parallel to the first plane. The antenna further includes a third antenna portion that includes a plurality of segments arranged substantially parallel to one another in a third plane. The plurality of segments of the third portion are coupled between segments of the first and second portions. The third plane is arranged substantially perpendicular to the first plane and the second plane.