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Publication Number
US-11831070-B2
Publication Date
2023-11-28
Expiration Date
Abstract
An antenna assembly includes: a wearable antenna including a conductive signal layer having a radiating surface; a feed conductive layer; and an insulating layer in between the conductive signal layer and the feed conductive layer, and wherein the conductive signal layer, the feed conductive layer, and the insulating layer are fabric-based, wherein the wearable antenna is shaped and sized to be embedded in a subject's clothing with sufficient flexibility to be stretched and bent as the subject implanted with a passive implantable stimulator device maintains routine daily activities, and wherein the wearable antenna is electrically tuned and configured to have the radiating surface of the conductive signal layer facing the subject's skin and a feed point of the feed conductive layer connecting to a controller such that the wearable antenna is non-inductively coupled to the implanted passive stimulator device to supply power the passive implantable stimulator device wirelessly and non-inductively.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a wearable antenna that includes a conductive signal layer configured to provide a radiating surface, a feed conductive layer having a feed point, and an insulating layer disposed between the conductive signal layer and the feed conductive layer. At least one of the conductive signal layer, the feed conductive layer, and the insulating layer incorporates a fabric material, enabling the antenna to flex as a subject implanted with an implantable stimulator maintains routine daily activities while wearing the wearable antenna.
The wearable antenna is electrically tuned, and the feed point is connectable to a controller so that, when worn, the wearable antenna is non-inductively coupled to the implantable stimulator to supply electrical power wirelessly through the radiating surface. The disclosed approach addresses powering a passive implantable stimulator using wireless stimulation via electrical radiative coupling rather than inductive coupling.
Multiple fabric antenna implementations are described, including dipole antennas and dipole antenna arrays configured for phase-controlled constructive interference, and patch antennas. Additional disclosed fabric-compatible shapes include band aid shaped single-element and multi-element antennas, with conductive ink and/or metallized or metal woven into fabric implementations.
Claims Coverage
The partial claims include two independent claims, each centered on a wearable fabric-based antenna electrically tuned for non-inductive wireless power transfer to an implantable stimulator while flexing during routine daily activities, with a controller connection to a feed point.
Fabric-based wearable antenna with radiating surface and insulating layer
A wearable antenna comprising a conductive signal layer including at least one conductor strip configured to provide a radiating surface, a feed conductive layer comprising a feed point, and an insulating layer disposed between the conductive signal layer and the feed conductive layer, wherein at least one of the conductive signal layer, the feed conductive layer, and the insulating layer incorporates a fabric material.
Electrically tuned non-inductive coupling to wirelessly supply power through the radiating surface
The wearable antenna is electrically tuned and the feed point of the feed conductive layer is connectable to a controller such that when the wearable antenna is worn by the subject, the wearable antenna is non-inductively coupled to the implantable stimulator to supply electrical power to the implantable stimulator wirelessly through the radiating surface.
Wearable antenna configured to flex during routine daily activities
The wearable antenna is configured to flex as a subject implanted with an implantable stimulator maintains routine daily activities while wearing the wearable antenna.
System including implantable stimulator, controller, and fabric-based wearable antenna
A system comprising an implantable stimulator, a controller, and a wearable antenna, wherein the wearable antenna comprises a conductive signal layer including at least one conductor strip configured to provide a radiating surface, a feed conductive layer comprising a feed point, and an insulating layer disposed between the conductive signal layer and the feed conductive layer, and wherein at least one of the conductive signal layer, the feed conductive layer, and the insulating layer incorporates a fabric material.
Across both independent claims, the core coverage combines a fabric-incorporated wearable antenna structure, electrical tuning with a controller-connected feed point, non-inductive wireless power coupling through the radiating surface to the implantable stimulator, and flexing with routine daily activities.
Stated Advantages
Enables the wearable antenna to flex as the subject maintains routine daily activities while wearing the wearable antenna.
Supplies electrical power to the implantable stimulator wirelessly through the radiating surface via non-inductive coupling.
Avoids tissue heating/irritation by using radiative coupling and controlled wireless stimulation behavior.
Documented Applications
A wireless stimulation system for powering a passive implantable stimulator using a wearable fabric-based RF antenna that non-inductively couples to supply electrical power through a radiating surface.
Use as part of a system with an external controller/programmer and an RF pulse generator/telemetry for wireless stimulation.
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