Implantable Device Housing Antenna for Miniaturized Wireless IMDs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for attaching antennas to implantable medical devices (IMDs) become challenging with miniaturization, leading to difficulties in forming, loading, and welding, and result in diminished wireless communication performance.
Innovation Solution
A method involving forming a channel on the IMD housing and depositing conductive material into it to create an antenna in-situ, which is then connected to communication circuitry, optionally with insulative layers for protection and using additive manufacturing for precise deposition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional discrete metal antenna elements are used in miniaturized IMDs, then antenna formation, loading, and welding become more difficult, but maintaining antenna performance and signal strength becomes compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the antenna formation process with the housing manufacturing process by integrating antenna elements directly into the housing structure during molding. This eliminates separate antenna assembly, loading, and welding steps, thereby simplifying manufacturing while maintaining antenna performance through precise integration into the housing design.
Solution Approach 2:
The antenna elements are pre-formed as integral parts of the housing during the molding process itself, before final assembly. This preliminary formation of antenna structures within the housing eliminates subsequent complex assembly operations and ensures proper positioning and electrical connection from the outset.
2Volume of moving object
If the size of the antenna is decreased to accommodate miniaturized IMDs, then the device form factor is reduced, but antenna gain and signal strength are diminished
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by optimizing the antenna element geometry, material composition, and positioning within the housing to maximize radiative efficiency within the constrained miniaturized volume. The antenna structures are specifically designed with enhanced local characteristics to maintain gain and signal strength despite the reduced overall size.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes three-dimensional positioning and complex spatial configurations of antenna elements within the housing to achieve enhanced radiation performance in limited space. By optimizing the antenna structures in multiple dimensions and utilizing the full volumetric space efficiently, the design maintains antenna gain and signal strength while accommodating miniaturized form factors.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient antenna formation on miniaturized IMDs with enhanced wireless communication capabilities without sacrificing performance, allowing for smaller form factors and reduced complexity.
Implementation Method 1
The conductive material may be deposited into the channel while the conductive material in a non-solid state and may conform to a shape of the channel. The conductive material may form the antenna in-situ on the housing upon solidifying.
Implementation Method 2
the method includes submitting the housing to a heat application after depositing the conductive material to harden the conductive material and form the antenna
Data Source
AI summary
A method for producing an implantable medical device (IMD) includes forming a channel along a surface of a housing of the IMD, and depositing a conductive material into the channel to at least partially fill the channel and form an antenna of the IMD on the housing. The method also includes 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.