An electrode set is disclosed for a defibrillator, the set including at least two electrodes each having a carrier layer, a conductive contact layer, a conductive gel layer, and a non-conductive electrode cover. In the storage state of the electrode set, the electrode covers lie against each other in a planar relationship at least portion-wise, on the side that is remote from the gel layer of the at least two electrodes. The gel layers of the electrodes are directly in contact with each other in a portion-wise manner by way of two openings in the electrode covers.

An apparatus, including a sterilely sealed package, and an electrode assembly sterilely sealed in the package, wherein the apparatus is configured to enable testing for an open circuit between two electrodes of the electrode assembly with the electrode assembly sterilely sealed in the package.

An implantable pulse generator (IPG) that generates spinal cord stimulation signals for a human body has a programmable signal generator that can generate the signals based on stored signal parameters without any intervention from a processor that controls the overall operation of the IPG. While the signal generator is generating the signals the processor can be in a standby mode to substantially save battery power.

A power control circuit for use with devices that will be placed in a flammable sterilizing gas includes a bi-stable switch that is configured to produce an output to place the circuitry of a connected device in a run state or a sleep state. The bi-stable switch controls one or more transistors to drain energy from energy storage devices in the circuitry of the connected device to a level below an ignition level of a sterilizing gas. A remotely actuatable switch can be actuated from outside of a packaging in which the power control circuit is placed to cause the bi-stable switch to produce an output that puts the circuitry in the run state without removing the power control circuit from the packaging.