Patent ID: 8897884

Claim:
An implantable medical device comprising: at least one electronic circuit having a connection to a common ground; at least one RF telemetry circuit having a connection to said common ground; at least one RF telemetry antenna configured to be in contact with tissue when said medical device is implanted, said at least one RF telemetry antenna comprising a plurality of device parts capable of functioning as an antenna, each of said parts being configured to be in contact with tissue when said medical device is implanted, and each of said parts being capable of receiving a pulse having a voltage amplitude that is capable of modifying a state of, or destroying, any component in said electronic circuit or said RF telemetry circuit; and each of said parts of said at least one RF telemetry antenna that is capable of functioning as an antenna being connected to said RF telemetry circuit via at least one capacitor, said capacitor being dimensioned to withstand the voltage amplitude of said pulse in order to prevent said pulse from being transmitted to said RF telemetry circuit via any of said parts of said RF telemetry antenna, and further comprising at least one further capacitor connected in series with said at least one RF telemetry antenna and dimensioned to withstand a voltage of at least one hundred volts.