Temporary package for an electrical component

• US 4,605,007 A
• Filed: 06/02/1980
• Issued: 08/12/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Heraly, Neil H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Application Number:
  US06/155,432
• Time in Patent Office: 2,262 Days
• Field of Search: 206/328, 206/330, 206/331, 206/333, 324/158 P, 324/67, 128/419 P, 128/419 PT, 128/419 PG, 128/1 R
• US Class Current: 607/27
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/00 Containers, covers, furniture or holders specially adapted for surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments, e.g. sterile covers drapes specially adapted for instruments A61B46/10
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2001/37294 Means for testing medical devices within the package prior to implantation
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 77/22 Details

Abstract

A temporary package for an electrical component including a container for housing the electrical component. The container is adapted to maintain a specialized internal environment until opened. Electrical communication may be established with the container housed electrical component without compromising the container internal environment. In a preferred embodiment, the electrical communication is established along an electrically conductive path extending between the container interior and exterior. The specialized environment may be a sterile internal condition with the container being formed of nested inner and outer trays each closed by a gas permeable closure through which sterilization is effected. The housed electrical component may be a signal generator, in which event its output signals are delivered to the container exterior without compromising the sterile condition within the container.

Claims

1. In a temporary package for a body implantable signal generator of the type having a container housing a signal generator, the container including tray means and gas permeable closure means maintaining a sterile internal condition while closed, the improvement which comprises means for monitoring the operating parameters of said container housed signal generator at the tray means exterior without compromising internal container sterility including electrically conductive path means extending through said tray means to at least two electrical contact means at said tray means exterior and insulating means removably secured to said tray means exterior over said contact means.

2. The signal generator package of claim 1 wherein said tray means comprises a first tray nested within a second tray, each tray being closed by gas permeable closure means and said electrically conductive path means extending between the interior of said first tray to the exterior of said second tray.

3. The signal generator package of claim 2 wherein said electrically conductive path means comprises first electrical contact means carried at the exterior of said first tray and second electrical contact means carried at the interior of said second tray, said first and second electrical contact means establishing electrical communication therebetween when said first tray is nested within said second tray.

4. The signal generator package of claim 3 wherein said container housed signal generator is of the type having output contacts, said electrically conductive path means further comprising means extending from said first contact means contacts into the interior of said first tray and contacting said signal generator output contacts.

5. The signal generator package of claim 4 wherein at least one of said signal generator output contacts comprises receptacle means and terminal means within said receptacle means, said means extending from said first contact means contacts comprising means engageable with said terminal means through said receptacle means without filling said receptacle means.

6. The signal generator package of claim 5 wherein one of said signal generator output contacts comprises a contact surface generally at the surface of said signal generator, said means extending from said first contact means contacts comprising means electrically contacting said contact surface.

7. The signal generator package of claim 6 wherein said means adapted to contact said contact surface comprises conductive clip means.

8. The signal generator package of claim 6 wherein said means contacting said contact surface comprises conductive pad means.

9. The signal generator package of claim 4 wherein one of said signal generator output contacts comprises a contact surface generally at the surface of said signal generator, said means extending from said first contact means contacts comprising means electrically contacting said contact surface.

10. The signal generator package of claim 9 wherein said means contacting said contact surface comprises conductive clip means.

11. The signal generator package of claim 9 wherein said means contacting said contact surface comprises conductive pad means.