IP Library Granted Patent US 9,037,257
Granted Patent B2
US 9,037,257 · App. 11/696,857 · Granted May 19, 2015

Resonance tuning module for implantable devices and leads

Inventors: Robert W. Gray (Rochester, NY); Stuart G. MacDonald (Pultneyville, NY)
Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
A61N1/37A61N1/05A61N1/08A61N2001/086A61N1/3718
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,037,257
App. No.
11/696,857
Granted
May 19, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

An implantable medical assist device includes a medical device. The medical device has a housing and electronics contained therein. A lead provides an electrical path to or from the electronics within the medical device. A resonance tuning module is located in the housing and is connected to the lead. The resonance tuning module includes a control circuit for determining a resonant frequency of the implantable medical assist device and an adjustable impedance circuit to change the combined resonant frequency of the medical device and lead.

Claims (35)

1. An implantable medical assist system, comprising:

a medical device including a housing and electronics contained therein;

a lead having a length to provide an electrical path to or from the electronics within the medical device to tissue; and

a resonance tuning module located in the housing and operatively connected to the lead,

the resonance tuning module including,

a control and adjustment subsystem configured to determine a resonant frequency of the implantable medical assist system after implantation of the medical assist system, and

an adjustable impedance circuit comprising at least one of an adjustable inductive element or an adjustable capacitive element, wherein, based on the resonant frequency of the implantable medical assist system determined after implantation of the medical assist system, the control and adjustment subsystem adjusts at least one of the adjustable inductive element or the adjustable capacitive element to adjust an impedance of the adjustable impedance circuit to change the resonant frequency of the medical assist system after implantation.

2. The implantable medical assist system of claim 1 , wherein the control and adjustment subsystem operatively controls the impedance of the adjustable impedance circuit to change the resonant frequency of the implantable medical assist system to be substantially equal to a desired resonant frequency.

3. The implantable medical assist system of claim 2 , wherein the control and adjustment subsystem operatively controls an impedance of the adjustable impedance circuit to readjust the resonant frequency of the implantable medical assist system to be substantially equal to a second desired resonant frequency.

4. The implantable medical assist system of claim 3 , wherein the first desired resonant frequency is approximately 64 MHz and the second desired resonant frequency is approximately 128 MHz.

5. The implantable medical assist system of claim 1 , wherein the control and adjustment subsystem operatively controls the impedance of the adjustable impedance circuit to change the resonant frequency of the implantable medical assist system to be substantially equal to a radio-frequency of a magnetic resonance imaging scanner.

6. The implantable medical assist system of claim 1 , wherein the control and adjustment subsystem operatively controls the impedance of the adjustable impedance circuit to change the resonant frequency of the implantable medical assist system and the lead to be substantially equal to 64 Mhz.

7. The implantable medical assist system of claim 1 , wherein the control and adjustment subsystem operatively controls the impedance of the adjustable impedance circuit to change the resonant frequency of the implantable medical assist system and the lead to be substantially equal to 128 MHz.

8. The implantable medical assist system of claim 1 , wherein the control and adjustment subsystem operatively controls the impedance of the adjustable impedance circuit to change the resonant frequency of the implantable medical assist system and the lead to be not perfectly tuned to a radio-frequency of a magnetic resonance imaging scanner.

9. The implantable medical assist system of claim 1 , wherein the control and adjustment subsystem operatively controls the impedance of the adjustable impedance circuit to change the resonant frequency of the implantable medical assist system and the lead to be not perfectly tuned to 64 Mhz.

10. The implantable medical assist system of claim 1 , wherein the control and adjustment subsystem operatively controls the impedance of the adjustable impedance circuit to change the resonant frequency of the implantable medical assist system to be not perfectly tuned to 128 MHz.

11. The implantable medical assist system of claim 1 , wherein the adjustable impedance circuit includes a variable inductor and a variable capacitor.

12. The implantable medical assist system of claim 1 , wherein the adjustable impedance circuit includes an adjustable inductive circuit and an adjustable capacitive circuit.

13. The implantable medical assist system of claim 1 , wherein the adjustable impedance circuit includes a variable inductor, a variable capacitor, and a variable resistor.

14. The implantable medical assist system of claim 1 , wherein the adjustable impedance circuit includes an adjustable inductive circuit, an adjustable capacitive circuit, and an adjustable resistive circuit.

15. The implantable medical assist system of claim 1 , wherein the control and adjustment subsystem iteratively determines the resonant frequency of the implantable medical assist system and iteratively adjusts the impedance of the adjustable impedance circuit until the resonant frequency of the medical assist system reaches a desired resonant frequency.

16. The implantable medical assist system of claim 1 , wherein the resonance tuning module receives instructions after implantation instructing the resonance tuning module to adjust the resonant frequency of the implantable medical assist system to a desired resonant frequency.

17. An implantable medical assist system, comprising:

a medical device including a housing and electronics contained therein;

a first lead to provide an electrical path to or from the electronics within the medical device;

a resonance tuning module; and

a second lead to provide an electrical path to or from the resonance tuning module;

the resonance tuning module including,

a control and adjustment subsystem configured to determine a resonant frequency of the implantable medical assist system after implantation of the medical assist system, and an adjustable impedance circuit comprising at least one of an adjustable inductive element or an adjustable capacitive element, wherein, based on the resonant frequency of the implantable medical assist system determined after implantation of the medical assist system, the control and adjustment subsystem adjusts at least one of the adjustable inductive element or the adjustable capacitive element to adjust an impedance of the adjustable impedance circuit to change the resonant frequency of the medical assist system after implantation.

18. An implantable medical assist system, comprising:

a medical device including a housing and therapy providing electronics contained therein;

a lead having a length to provide an electrical path to or from the electronics within the medical device to tissue to receive therapy; and

a resonance tuning module located in the housing and operatively connected to the lead;

the resonance tuning module including,

a control and adjustment subsystem configured to determine a resonant frequency of the implantable medical assist system after implantation of the medical assist system, and an adjustable impedance circuit comprising at least one of an adjustable inductive element or an adjustable capacitive element, wherein, based on the resonant frequency of the implantable medical assist system determined after implantation of the medical assist system, the control and adjustment subsystem adjusts at least one of the adjustable inductive element or the adjustable capacitive element to adjust an impedance of the adjustable impedance circuit to change the resonant frequency of the medical assist system to be substantially equal to a radio-frequency of a magnetic resonance imaging scanner after implantation.

Assignments (2)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 7, 2008
From: IROQOUIS MASTER FUND, LTD
To: MEDTRONIC, INC.
Reel/Frame 020909/0366 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 20, 2007
From: GRAY, ROBERT W.; MACDONALD, STUART G.
To: MEDTRONIC, INC.
Reel/Frame 020140/0314 →
Continuity (5)
Provisional Application 60744468 · Apr 7, 2006
Provisional Application 60744464 · Apr 7, 2006
Provisional Application 60806115 · Jun 29, 2006
Provisional Application 60747027 · May 11, 2006
Related Publication 20080058902A1 · Mar 6, 2008