Biostimulator header assembly having antenna
A biostimulator, such as a leadless cardiac pacemaker, has a header assembly that includes an antenna. A header assembly includes an antenna cap having an antenna loop embedded in a cap body. The cap body includes a dielectric material, and the antenna loop extends about a central channel of the cap body. The central channel extends along a longitudinal axis over a cap length, and the cap body has a cap width transverse to the longitudinal axis. The cap body has an aspect ratio of the cap width to the cap length greater than 1. A header assembly includes an antenna loop of the antenna encased in a header body of the header assembly. The header assembly includes a fixation element. A proximal end of the fixation element is encased in the header body. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
1 . A header assembly for a biostimulator, comprising:
an antenna including an antenna loop extending about a longitudinal axis;
a fixation element located adjacent to the antenna and extending helically about the longitudinal axis from a proximal end to a distal tip; and
a header body including an insulative material encasing the antenna loop and the proximal end of the fixation element.
2 . The header assembly of claim 1 further comprising an anchor connecting the fixation element to the antenna.
3 . The header assembly of claim 2 , wherein the anchor includes a slot to receive the proximal end of the fixation element.
4 . The header assembly of claim 2 , wherein the anchor electrically insulates the fixation element from the antenna.
5 . The header assembly of claim 2 , wherein the anchor electrically connects the fixation element to the antenna.
6 . The header assembly of claim 1 , wherein the antenna loop is an open loop extending along a transverse plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis from a first antenna end to a second antenna end.
7 . The header assembly of claim 1 further comprising one or more prongs extending outward from the antenna loop.
8 . The header assembly of claim 1 , wherein a helical diameter of the fixation element is smaller than a header diameter of the header body.
9 . The header assembly of claim 1 , wherein a loop diameter of the antenna loop is equal to or smaller than a header diameter of the header body.
10 . A method, comprising:
molding one or more insulative materials into a first portion of a header body around an antenna;
locating a proximal end of a fixation element adjacent to the antenna; and
molding the one or more insulative materials into a second portion of the header body around the proximal end of the fixation element.
11 . The method of claim 10 further comprising electrically connecting the fixation element to the antenna.
12 . The method of claim 10 further comprising electrically connecting the antenna to an electrical feedthrough extending through a housing, wherein the housing includes an electronics compartment containing electronic circuitry electrically connected to the electrical feedthrough.