Alfred E. Mann Foundation for Scientific Research

Lung-Hsi Chu

Joseph H Schulman

Lee Jay Mandell

Richard J Nelson

Martin J Vogel

Robert A Firth

Anthony D Falco

Adam Vogel, Legal Representative

A method and apparatus for protecting an electronic implantable medical device prior to it being implanted in a patient's body. The apparatus affords protection against electronic component damage due to electrostatic discharge and/or physical damage due to improper handling. The apparatus is comprised of a circuit board having conductive surface means for receiving and releasably grasping the electrodes of the medical device to support the device's housing proximate to the surface of the circuit board. First and second conductive paths are formed on the circuit board extending between the first and second conductive surfaces for shunting electrostatic discharge currents to prevent such currents from passing through the device's electronic circuitry. The respective shunt paths include oppositely oriented diodes, preferably comprising diodes which emit light (i.e., LEDs) when current passes therethrough. Additionally, means are provided to enable functional testing of the medical device.

Protection apparatus for implantable medical device

A method and apparatus for protecting an electronic implantable medical device prior to it being implanted in a patient's body. The apparatus affords protection against electronic component damage due to electrostatic discharge and/or physical damage due to improper handling. The apparatus is comprised of a circuit board having a conductive surface for receiving and releasably grasping the electrodes of the medical device to support the device's housing proximate to the surface of the circuit board. Two conductive paths are formed on the circuit board extending between two conductive surfaces for shunting electrostatic discharge currents to prevent such currents from passing through the device's electronic circuitry. The conductive paths include oppositely oriented diodes, preferably comprising diodes which emit light (i.e., LEDs) when current passes therethrough. Additionally, an external monitor/generator is provided to enable functional testing of the medical device.

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Newhall, CA, United States of America

Lung-Hsi Chu