Stacked Antenna Printed Circuit for Medical Implants

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing printed circuits for medical implants, such as prostheses, are bulky due to the size of their antennas, which affects the efficiency of energy reception and data communication.

Innovation Solution

A printed circuit with a stacked antenna configuration, where the antenna layers are arranged perpendicular to the main support, reducing the surface area and bulk, and the electronic component is positioned at a distance from the antenna, allowing for a more compact design.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the antenna size is increased to improve energy reception and data communication efficiency, then the communication efficiency is improved, but the printed circuit becomes bulky

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata communication efficiencyVSAvoidprinted circuit size
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from a planar antenna design to a three-dimensional stacked configuration. Multiple antenna layers are arranged vertically along a direction perpendicular to the main support, utilizing the third dimension (height) to increase the effective antenna area without expanding the horizontal footprint. This dimensional change resolves the contradiction by enabling larger antenna surface area for improved communication efficiency while maintaining a compact overall volume.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Use of energy by moving object

If the antenna surface area is increased to improve energy reception, then the power supply efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy reception efficiencyVSAvoidantenna structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The antenna is divided into multiple separate layers stacked vertically, with each layer being a simpler planar structure. These segmented layers are connected through conductive vias that pass through the dielectric substrate. This segmentation allows each individual layer to be designed and manufactured using standard planar processes, reducing the complexity of fabricating large-area antennas while still achieving high energy reception efficiency through the cumulative effect of multiple layers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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

The compact design enhances data communication and power supply efficiency while minimizing external disturbances, resulting in a more robust and efficient communication system for medical implants.

Implementation Method 1

such as a radio tag, which can be associated with sensors of physical quantities... transmit, among other things, the data measured by the sensors... The performance of energy reception and data communication of these circuits depends on the characteristics of the antenna

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

The antenna is of the loop antenna type. The antenna is sensitive to a magnetic field parallel to the main plane

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic field generation: Magnetic Field

Data Source

PatentEP3815183B1Printed circuit for data communication
Publication Date: 2023.06.07 CENT NAT DE LA RECH SCI (C N R S)
  • EP3815183B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2b
  • EP3815183B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~5
  • EP3815183B1 patent drawingFigure 6a~7a

AI summary

The invention relates to a printed circuit (100) comprising a main support (102) extending in a plane (P), referred to as the main plane, an electronic component (104) arranged on said main support (102) and an antenna (106), said antenna (106) being: - formed by a conducting track distributed over at least two stacked layers (1061,1062,1063,1064) in a direction (A) perpendicular to said main plane (P), such that said antenna (106) is sensitive to an electromagnetic field (B), and - arranged at a non-zero distance (d) from said electronic component (104) in said main plane (P). The invention also relates to a prosthesis comprising a printed circuit (100) according to the invention.