Circuit board construction for handheld programmer
In general, the disclosure is directed to a patient programmer for an implantable medical device. The patient programmer may include one or more of a variety of features that may enhance performance, support mobility and compactness, or promote patient convenience. The patient programmer includes an internal antenna mounted on a first circuit board and a display mounted on a second circuit board. The first circuit board includes a substantially contiguous around plane layer that is interrupted by two or more gaps. The patient programmer may also include one or more of a variety of features that may enhance performance, support mobility and compactness, or promote patient convenience.
1. A programmer for an implantable medical device, the programmer comprising:
a programmer housing;
an internal antenna mounted on a first circuit board within the programmer housing; and
a display device mounted on a second circuit board within the programmer housing,
wherein the first circuit board includes a substantially contiguous ground plane layer interrupted by a plurality of gaps, and
wherein the first circuit board includes an electrostatic discharge layer defining a peripheral conductive layer and a central aperture.
2. The programmer of claim 1 , wherein the gaps divide the ground plane layer into a plurality of interconnected conductive ground plane regions.
3. The programmer of claim 1 , wherein the gaps divide adjacent ground plane regions to disrupt flow of eddy currents within the ground plane layer.
4. The programmer of claim 1 , wherein each of the gaps extends outward from a central region of the ground plane layer.
5. The programmer of claim 1 , wherein the internal antenna defines an aperture, and the central aperture of the electrostatic discharge layer substantially approximates a size and shape of the aperture of the antenna.
6. The programmer of claim 1 , wherein the electrostatic discharge layer is a first electrostatic discharge layer formed on a first side of the ground plane layer, the programmer further comprising a second electrostatic discharge layer formed on a second side of the ground plane layer.
7. The programmer of claim 6 , wherein the second electrostatic discharge layer defines a second central aperture that substantially approximates a size and shape of the central aperture of the first electrostatic discharge layer.
8. The programmer of claim 1 , wherein the antenna comprises a loop-like antenna shape that defines an aperture.
9. The programmer of claim 1 , further comprising a battery bay formed within an aperture of the antenna.
10. The programmer of claim 1 , wherein each of the gaps has a width in a range of approximately 0.2 to approximately 3.0 mm.
11. A programmer for an implantable medical device, the programmer comprising:
a programmer housing;
an internal antenna mounted on a first circuit board within the programmer housing, wherein the internal antenna has a loop-like structure and defines a first aperture, and the first circuit board includes at least one signal plane with an electrostatic discharge layer defining a second aperture in substantially overlapping alignment with the first aperture; and
a display device mounted on a second circuit board within the programmer housing,
wherein the first circuit board includes a substantially contiguous ground plane layer interrupted by a plurality of gaps.
12. The programmer of claim 11 , wherein the gaps divide the ground plane layer into a plurality of interconnected conductive ground plane regions.
13. The programmer of claim 11 , wherein the gaps divide adjacent ground plane regions to disrupt flow of eddy currents within the ground plane layer.
14. The programmer of claim 11 , wherein each of the gaps extends outward from a central region of the ground plane layer.
15. The programmer of claim 11 , wherein the electrostatic discharge layer substantially approximates a size and shape of the first aperture of the internal antenna.
16. The programmer of claim 11 , wherein the electrostatic discharge layer is a first electrostatic discharge layer formed on a first side of the ground plane layer, the programmer further comprising a second electrostatic discharge layer formed on a second side of the ground plane layer.
17. The programmer of claim 16 , wherein the second electrostatic discharge layer defines a third aperture that substantially approximates a size and shape of the second aperture of the first electrostatic discharge layer.
18. The programmer of claim 11 , further comprising a battery bay formed within the first aperture of the internal antenna.
19. The programmer of claim 11 , wherein the first circuit board includes telemetry circuitry for communication with a medical device via the antenna.
20. The programmer of claim 11 , wherein each of the gaps has a width in a range of approximately 0.2 to approximately 3.0 mm.
21. The programmer of claim 1 , wherein the first circuit board and the second circuit board occupy different planes that are displaced from one another, wherein the internal antenna is mounted on a first side of the first circuit board, and the display device is mounted on a second side of the second circuit board facing away from the first circuit board.
22. The programmer of claim 11 , wherein the first circuit board and the second circuit board occupy different planes that are displaced from one another, wherein the internal antenna is mounted on a first side of the first circuit board, and the display device is mounted on a second side of the second circuit board facing away from the first circuit board.
23. The programmer of claim 1 , wherein the programmer comprises analog electronics and digital electronics, wherein a first majority of the analog electronics is placed on the first circuit board and a second majority of the digital electronics is placed on the second circuit board.
24. The programmer of claim 11 , wherein the programmer comprises analog electronics and digital electronics, wherein a first majority of the analog electronics is placed on the first circuit board and a second majority of the digital electronics is placed on the second circuit board.