Patent ID: 7983760

Claim:
A method for effecting communication between an external control unit and an implanted medical device, wherein the external control unit has a housing; electronics disposed on a pc board, for controlling an RF emission from the control unit, are disposed within the housing; an arc shaped antenna is pivotably connected to the housing such that said antenna moves between a stowed position and a deployed position with respect to said housing in only one plane, the arc shaped antenna defines an antenna plane, in the stowed position the antenna plane is approximately coplanar with a plane defined by the pc board, in the stowed position the arc shaped antenna is both approximately coplanar with, and encircles the outer periphery of, the housing, said method comprising the steps of: placing the external control unit within electronic communication range of the implanted medical device; pivotably moving the control unit arc shaped antenna with respect to said housing in only one plane to a deployed position where RF emission from the arc shaped antenna is permitted; and causing the emition of RF waves from the arc shaped antenna to establish communication between the external control unit and the implanted medical device.