Abstract: A method of treating patients with compulsive eating disorders includes the steps of detecting a preselected event indicative of an imminent need for treatment of the specific eating disorder of interest, and responding to the detected occurrence of the preselected event by applying a predetermined stimulating signal to the patient's vagus nerve appropriate to alleviate the effect of the eating disorder of interest. For example, the preselected event may be a specified level of food consumption by the patient within a set interval of time, or the commencement of a customary mealtime according to the patient's circadian cycle, or the passage of each of a sequence of preset intervals of time, or the patient's own recognition of the need for treatment by voluntarily initiating the application of the stimulating signal to the vagus nerve. In cases in which the disorder is compulsive eating to excess, the stimulating signal is predetermined to produce a sensation of satiety in the patient.

Abstract: An implantable medical device is provided with a removable dummy load across its connector output terminals to allow the device to be tested without removal from the sterile disposable package in which it is shipped and stored. The dummy load is confined with the device entirely within the sterile package to simulate the electrical impedance across the output terminals when the device is implanted in a patient and connected to an electrical lead for tissue stimulation. Testing is performed using a conventional external programmer normally provided for programming and monitoring output functions and parameters of the device. The programmer communicates by telemetry with the device confined within the package, to test selected functions and parameters. The dummy load has posts adapted to mate with the receptacles of the electrical connector of the device, and to be secured mechanically and electrically in the receptacles by set screws.