Protection apparatus for implantable medical device

An apparatus for physically and electrically protecting an electronic medical device having first and second electrodes prior to it being implanted in a patient's body, said apparatus comprising:

• first and second contact clips for electrically respectively contacting the first and second electrodes on the medical device;
• first and second circuit paths connected between said first and second contact clips, said first and second circuit paths respectively including oppositely oriented first and second unidirectional current devices;
• and wherein
• said first and second unidirectional current devices comprise light emitting diodes.

An apparatus for physically and electrically protecting an electronic medical device having first and second electrodes prior to it being implanted in a patient's body, said apparatus comprising:

• first and second contact clips for electrically respectively contacting the first and second electrodes on the medical device;
• first and second circuit paths connected between said first and second contact clips, said first and second circuit paths respectively including oppositely oriented first and second unidirectional current devices;
• a protection network electrically connected across said first and second contact clips to suppress electrostatic discharge;
• and wherein
• said protection network comprises a pair of unidirectional current devices serially connected in opposing polarities.

An apparatus for use with an implantable housing carrying first and second externally accessible electrodes and internally containing electronic circuitry connected to the first and second electrodes, said apparatus comprising:

• a substrate;
• a first spring clip mounted on said substrate, said first spring clip configured to electrically contact and releasably retain the first electrode;
• a second spring clip mounted on said substrate, said spring contact clip configured to electrically contact and releasably retain the second electrode;
• first and second shunt paths carried by said substrate connected between said first and second spring clips, said first and second shunt paths respectively including oppositely oriented unidirectional current devices to thereby serve to protect the electronic circuitry within said implantable housing from electrostatic discharge prior to implantation;
• and wherein
• said apparatus is configured to be separated from the implantable housing before implantation.

An apparatus for use with an implantable housing carrying first and second externally accessible electrodes and internally containing electronic circuitry connected to the first and second electrodes, said apparatus comprising:

• a substrate;
• a first spring clip mounted on said substrate, said first spring clip configured to electrically contact and releasably retain the first electrode;
• a second spring clip mounted on said substrate, said spring contact clip configured to electrically contact and releasably retain the second electrode;
• first and second shunt paths carried by said substrate connected between said first and second spring clips, said first and second shunt paths respectively including oppositely oriented unidirectional current devices;
• and wherein
• said first and second shunt paths respectively include first and second light emitting diodes.

An apparatus for use with an implantable housing carrying first and second externally accessible electrodes and internally containing electronic circuitry connected to the first and second electrodes, said apparatus comprising:

• a substrate;
• a first spring clip mounted on said substrate, said first spring clip configured to electrically contact and releasably retain the first electrode;
• a second spring clip mounted on said substrate, said spring contact clip configured to electrically contact and releasably retain the second electrode;
• first and second shunt paths carried by said substrate connected between said first and second spring clips, said first and second shunt paths respectively including oppositely oriented unidirectional current devices;
• a protection network electrically connected across said first and second spring clips to suppress electrostatic discharge;
• and wherein
• said protection network comprises a pair of unidirectional current devices serially connected in opposing polarities.

In combination with a medical device configured to be implanted in a patient's body, the device including a housing containing electronic circuitry connected to first and second electrodes extending exteriorly from the housing, an apparatus for use with the medical device prior to it being implanted, said apparatus comprising:

• a dielectric substrate carrying spaced first and second conductive contact clips, each of said clips being configured to electrically contact and physically retain one of the electrodes;
• a first shunt circuit carried by said substrate electrically connected between said first and second contact clips;
• a second shunt circuit carried by said substrate electrically connected between said first and second contact clips;
• wherein
• said first and second shunt circuits respectively include oppositely directed first and second diodes to thereby serve to protect the medical device from electrostatic discharge prior to implantation to thereby serve to protect the medical device from electrostatic discharge prior to implantation;
• and wherein
• said apparatus is configured to be separated from the medical device before implantation.

In combination with a medical device configured to be implanted in a patient's body, the device including a housing containing electronic circuitry connected to first and second electrodes extending exteriorly from the housing, an apparatus for use with the medical device prior to it being implanted, said apparatus comprising:

• a dielectric substrate carrying spaced first and second conductive contact clips, each of said clips being configured to electrically contact and physically retain one of the electrodes;
• a first shunt circuit carried by said substrate electrically connected between said first and second contact clips;
• a second shunt circuit carried by said substrate electrically connected between said first and second contact clips;
• and wherein
• said first and second shunt circuits respectively include oppositely directed first and second diodes to thereby serve to protect the medical device from electrostatic discharge prior to implantation, wherein said first and second diodes each include means for emitting light in response to current therethrough.

In combination with a medical device configured to be implanted in a patient's body, the device including a housing containing electronic circuitry connected to first and second electrodes extending exteriorly from the housing, an apparatus for use with the medical device prior to it being implanted, said apparatus comprising:

• a dielectric substrate carrying spaced first and second conductive contact clips, each of said clips being configured to electrically contact and physically retain one of the electrodes;
• a first shunt circuit carried by said substrate electrically connected between said first and second contact clips;
• a second shunt circuit carried by said substrate electrically connected between said first and second contact clips;
• wherein
• said first and second shunt circuits respectively include oppositely directed first and second diodes to thereby serve to protect the medical device from electrostatic discharge prior to implantation;
• a shipping container defining a transparent window;
• and wherein
• said apparatus is accommodated in said shipping container with said diodes visible through said window.

In combination with a medical device configured to be implanted in a patient's body, the device including a housing containing electronic circuitry connected to first and second electrodes extending exteriorly from the housing, an apparatus for use with the medical device prior to it being implanted, said apparatus comprising:

• a dielectric substrate carrying spaced first and second conductive contact clips, each of said clips being configured to electrically contact and physically retain one of the electrodes;
• a first shunt circuit carried by said substrate electrically connected between said first and second contact clips;
• a second shunt circuit carried by said substrate electrically connected between said first and second contact clips;
• wherein
• said first and second shunt circuits respectively include oppositely directed first and second diodes to thereby serve to protect the medical device from electrostatic discharge prior to implantation;
• a protection network electrically connected across said first and second contact clips to suppress electrostatic discharge;
• and wherein
• said protection network comprises a pair of unidirectional current devices serially connected in opposing polarities.

A method of protecting an implantable medical device prior to implantation, the device comprising a housing containing electronic circuitry connected between first and second electrodes extending exteriorly from the housing, said method comprising:

• providing first and second contacts for electrically contacting the first and second electrodes;
• providing a first shunt path between said first and second contacts including a first current device oriented to permit current therethrough only from said first to said second contact;
• and
• providing a second shunt path between said first and second contacts including a second current device oriented to permit current therethrough only from said second to said first contact, whereby said first and second shunt paths serve to protect the medical device from electrostatic discharge prior to implantation to thereby serve to protect the medical device from electrostatic discharge prior to implantation;
• and wherein said apparatus is configured to be separated from the medical device before implantation.

A method of protecting an implantable medical device prior to implantation, the device comprising a housing containing electronic circuitry connected between first and second electrodes extending exteriorly from the housing, said method comprising:

• providing first and second contacts for electrically contacting the first and second electrodes;
• providing a first shunt path between said first and second contacts including a first current device oriented to permit current therethrough only from said first to said second contact;
• providing a second shunt path between said first and second contacts including a second current device oriented to permit current therethrough only from said second to said first contact;
• and
• providing an indicator in at least one of said shunt paths to indicate current therethrough.

A method of protecting an implantable medical device prior to implantation, the device comprising a housing containing electronic circuitry connected between first and second electrodes extending exteriorly from the housing, said method comprising:

• providing first and second contacts for electrically contacting the first and second electrodes;
• providing a first shunt path between said first and second contacts including a first current device oriented to permit current therethrough only from said first to said second contact;
• providing a second shunt path between said first and second contacts including a second current device oriented to permit current therethrough only from said second to said first contact;
• emitting light in said first shunt path to indicate current therethrough;
• and
• emitting light in said second shunt path to indicate current therethrough.

A method of protecting an implantable medical device prior to implantation, the device comprising a housing containing electronic circuitry connected between first and second electrodes extending exteriorly from the housing, said method comprising:

• providing first and second contacts for electrically contacting the first and second electrodes;
• providing a first shunt path between said first and second contacts including a first current device oriented to permit current therethrough only from said first to said second contact;
• providing a second shunt path between said first and second contacts including a second current device oriented to permit current therethrough only from said second to said first contact;
• providing a protection network electrically connected across said first and second contacts to suppress electrostatic discharge;
• and wherein
• said protection network comprises a pair of unidirectional current devices serially connected in opposing polarities.