Implantable Antenna Multi-Surface Configuration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Implantable medical devices face limitations in achieving uniform and reliable wireless communication due to restricted antenna size and orientation-dependent radiation characteristics, which affect communication efficiency, especially when used for self-monitoring and follow-ups.
Innovation Solution
The antenna configuration is redesigned to extend across multiple housing surfaces and tilted relative to the vertical axis, allowing for improved radiation characteristics in a direction perpendicular to the patient's chest, enhancing communication reliability and ease of alignment with an external transceiver.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the antenna wire is arranged along the header portion to obtain as long circumference as possible, then the antenna area is maximized, but the radiation characteristics are oriented perpendicular to the device flat side rather than perpendicular to the patient's chest
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a planar antenna arrangement along the header portion to a three-dimensional configuration that extends across multiple housing surfaces. The antenna wire is routed from the first housing surface, across the intermediate surface, to the second housing surface, creating a spatial distribution that optimizes radiation in the direction perpendicular to the patient's chest while maintaining large antenna area.
2Area of stationary object
If the antenna is oriented to maximize radiation perpendicular to the device flat side, then the antenna area is maximized, but the communication reliability depends heavily on patient orientation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the spatial parameters of the antenna configuration by distributing it across multiple housing surfaces at different orientations. This multi-surface arrangement creates more uniform radiation characteristics in three-dimensional space, reducing dependence on specific patient orientations while maintaining large antenna area for efficient communication.
3Productivity
If the antenna configuration is optimized for specific directional radiation, then communication efficiency in that direction is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The housing surfaces serve multiple functions: they provide structural enclosure for the implantable device and simultaneously serve as mounting surfaces for the antenna configuration. The intermediate surface acts both as a structural element and as a pathway for the antenna wire. This multi-functionality achieves improved communication efficiency without adding separate structural components.
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
This configuration provides more uniform and reliable communication links, reducing dependence on patient orientation and facilitating easier communication setup, especially for self-monitoring and follow-ups, by optimizing radiation patterns for improved connectivity.
Implementation Method 1
The ability of the antenna to propagate electromagnetic waves is dependent on the antenna shape and size as well as on the orientation of the antenna
Data Source
AI summary
An implantable medical device has a housing having a first housing surface side, a second housing surface side opposing the first housing surface side, and an intermediate surface side extending between the first and second housing surface sides. The implantable medical device has an antenna device arranged at the first housing surface side, continuing at the intermediate surface side and further at the second housing surface side. Improved radiation characteristics are obtained in a desired direction.