ANTENNA MOUNTS FOR MEDICAL DEVICES
Antenna mounts for medical devices are described herein. An example antenna mount includes a flexible substrate configured to conform to an interior wall of a device housing. For instance, the flexible substrate includes an electrically insulative material. A hole is disposed through the flexible substrate.
1 . A defibrillator, comprising:
a housing;
an antenna mount disposed on an interior surface of the housing and comprising a material that is flexible and electrically insulative, wherein a hole extends through the antenna mount;
a flexible antenna disposed between the interior surface of the housing and the antenna mount;
a measurement circuit configured to detect an electrocardiogram (ECG) of a patient;
a wire disposed in the hole through the antenna mount, the wire being connected to the flexible antenna and the measurement circuit;
a treatment circuit configured to output an electrical shock to the patient; and
a processor configured to:
determine, by analyzing the ECG, that the patient is exhibiting ventricular fibrillation (VF);
in response to determining that the patient is exhibiting VF, causing the treatment circuit to output the electrical shock to the patient; and
cause the flexible antenna to transmit an electromagnetic (EM) signal indicating the ECG, the VF, and the electrical shock.
2 . The defibrillator of claim 1 , wherein the material comprises polycarbonate, polyethylene, polypropylene, acrylic, or aramid paper.
3 . The defibrillator of claim 1 , wherein the antenna mount has a thickness of between about 0.1 millimeters (mm) and about 3 mm.
4 . The defibrillator of claim 1 , wherein an edge of the hole through the antenna mount comprises the material that is flexible and electrically insulative.
5 . An antenna mount, comprising:
a flexible substrate configured to conform to an interior wall of a device housing, the flexible substrate comprising an electrically insulative material, a hole being disposed through the flexible substrate.
6 . The antenna mount of claim 5 , wherein the flexible substrate can be bent at a radius of curvature of 1 centimeter without breaking, or
wherein a height of the flexible substrate is shorter than a height of the device housing.
7 . The antenna mount of claim 5 , the interior wall comprising a protrusion, the antenna mount further comprising:
a groove in the flexible substrate, the protrusion being configured to fit in the groove.
8 . The antenna mount of claim 5 , wherein the device housing is part of a defibrillator or mechanical chest compression device.
9 . The antenna mount of claim 5 , wherein the electrically insulative material comprises a polymer or a foam.
10 . The antenna mount of claim 5 , further comprising:
a dampener disposed on the flexible substrate, wherein the dampener comprises a foam.
11 . The antenna mount of claim 5 , further comprising:
a rail configured to attach to an antenna; and
an actuator coupled to the rail and configured to move the antenna along the rail, wherein the actuator comprises a servo motor, a magnetic actuator, or a shape memory alloy actuator.
12 . A method of manufacturing a medical device, comprising:
installing an antenna between an antenna mount and an interior wall of a device housing, the antenna mount comprising a flexible substrate configured to conform to the interior wall of the device housing, the flexible substrate comprising an electrically insulative material;
routing a wire from the antenna through a hole in the antenna mount; and
connecting the wire to a circuit of the medical device.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein installing the antenna comprises attaching the antenna to a rail disposed on the antenna mount.
14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
installing an actuator configured to move the antenna along the rail, the actuator comprising a servo motor, a magnetic actuator, or a shape memory alloy actuator.
15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the antenna comprises a flexible antenna, a communication antenna, or a wireless charging antenna.
16 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
securing the flexible substrate on the interior wall of the device housing by positioning a protrusion on the interior wall through a groove in the antenna mount.
17 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the antenna is a first antenna, further comprising:
installing a second antenna between the antenna mount and the interior wall of the device housing.
18 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
forming the flexible substrate configured to conform to the interior wall of the device housing; and
attaching the antenna to the flexible substrate with an adhesive, a magnet, or a cutout.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein forming the flexible substrate comprises a laser cutting process, a die cutting process, a waterjet cutting process, or a stamping process.
20 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
attaching a dampener to the flexible substrate.