Implantable medical device with dummy load for pre-implant testing in sterile package and facilitating electrical lead connection

A sterile packaged implantable programmable medical device having operating functions for electrically stimulating selected excitable tissue in a patient's body when the device is implanted after removal from its sterile package, comprising:

• a medical device adapted to be implanted in a patient;
• package means for encapsulating the device in a sterile environment for transport and storage in preparation for implantation;
• the device including:
• electrical circuit means responsive to predetermined signals generated external to the package means for programming electrical output parameters of the device included within said operating functions, the electrical circuit means including:
• battery means for powering the device, and
• telemetry means for sending and receiving telemetry signals including at least some of the externally generated predetermined signals to and from the device, whereby to enable communication between the device and a telemetry system external to the package means adapted to program and monitor electrical output parameters of the device,
• a case housing the electrical circuit means, and
• an electrical connector including output terminals connected to the electrical circuit means, adapted to deliver the electrical output parameters of the device to a load presented when the device is implanted in the patient and connected by the output terminals to proximal terminals of an electrical lead for electrical interaction with the tissue to be stimulated;
• and
• dummy load means contained entirely within the package means for simulating the approximate electrical impedance of said load, the dummy load means including load terminals connected to the output terminals of the connector;
• the connector further including fastener means for securely fastening the load terminals of the dummy load means mechanically and electrically to the output terminals of the connector within the package means, and for disconnection therefrom after the device is removed from the package means and before implantation in the patient, whereby at least some of said operating functions of the device may be tested and test measurements monitored by means of the telemetry signals as though the device were implanted in the patient, before removal of the device from its sterile package, and the load terminals of the dummy load means providing a mechanical stop for the fastener means when the load terminals are securely fastened to the output terminals of the device, to assure reliable connection of the proximal terminals of the electrical lead to the output terminals when the dummy load means is replaced by the electrical lead.