Abstract: Disclosed are methods and devices for limiting expansion in at least one portion of gastric tissue.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for treating a condition such as obesity. The apparatus includes a set of one or more electrodes, which are adapted to be applied to one or more respective sites in a vicinity of a body of a stomach of a patient. A control unit is adapted to drive the electrode set to apply to the body of the stomach a signal, configured such that application thereof increases a level of contraction of muscle tissue of the body of the stomach, and decreases a cross sectional area of a portion of the body of the stomach for a substantially continuous period greater than about 3 seconds.

Abstract: Apparatus (170) for heart pacing with hemodynamic improvement, including one or more electrodes (36), which convey electrical signals to respective cardiac muscle segments. Signal generation circuitry (50) applies an extended pacing signal (60, 61), having an overall duration greater than three times a chronaxie time, to the one or more electrodes so as to pace the heart. The signal preferably includes a train of a plurality of biphasic pulses, and has an amplitude at least three times as great as a threshold for pacing the heart, but not sufficient for cardioversion.

Abstract: This invention is a lead (10) for modifying the activity of a tissue, particularly the heart. Electrodes are provided for performing sensing (15p) (15d), and/or signal delivery (16p) (16d) functions. A control unit controls the parameters of the electric field provided by signal delivery electrodes to prevent the generation of a propagation action potential in the tissue.

Abstract: A method of modifying the force of contraction of at least a portion of a heart chamber is provided. A non-excitatory electric field of given duration is applied, at a delay after an activation of the heart, which increase the force of contraction by at least 5%. Apparatus is also provided for pacing with hemodynamic improvement. Circuitry applies an extended pacing signal to electrodes to pace the heart, the extended pacing signal having an overall duration greater than 8 ms from a time of initiation of application of that portion of the signal that initiates action potential propagation. The signal includes a train of biphasic pulses having pulse durations of at least 1 ms, and the signal has an amplitude that is at least three times as great as a threshold for pacing the heart and that is sufficient neither for cardioversion nor for defibrillation. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A method of modifying the force of contraction of at least a portion of a heart chamber, including providing a subject having a heart, comprising at least a portion having an activation, and applying a non-excitatory electric field having a given duration, at a delay after the activation, to the portion, which causes the force of contraction to be increased by a least 5%.

Abstract: A method of modifying the force of contraction of at least a portion of a heart chamber, including providing a subject having a heart, comprising at least a portion having an activation, and applying a non-excitatory electric field having a given duration, at a delay after the activation, to the portion, which causes the force of contraction to be increased by a least 5%.

Abstract: A method of modifying the force of contraction of at least a portion of a heart chamber, including providing a subject having a heart, comprising at least a portion having an activation, and applying a non-excitatory electric field having a given duration, at a delay after the activation, to the portion, which causes the force of contraction to be increased by a least 5%.

Abstract: A method of promoting the healing of a lesion in a smooth muscle (200), comprises selecting a smooth muscle portion having a lesion, and applying a non-excitory electric field (210) to the portion, which reduces the mechanical activity of the portion.

Abstract: A method of modifying the force of contraction of at least a portion of a heart chamber, including providing a subject having a heart, comprising at least a portion having an activation, and applying a non-excitatory electric field having a given duration, at a delay after the activation, to the portion, which causes the force of contraction to be increased by a least 5%.

Abstract: A method of promoting the healing of a lesion in a smooth muscle (200), comprises selecting a smooth muscle portion having a lesion, and applying a non-excitory electric field (210) to the portion, which reduces the mechanical activity of the portion.

Abstract: A method of promoting the healing of a lesion in a smooth muscle (200), comprises selecting a smooth muscle portion having a lesion, and applying a non-excitory electric field (210) to the portion, which reduces the mechanical activity of the portion.

Abstract: A method for deploying an expandable implant in a body passage of varying diameter includes selecting a balloon having a radial dimension that varies, when the balloon is inflated, in accordance with the varying diameter of the body passage. The balloon is inserted, in a deflated state, into the body passage, with the expandable implant fitted radially around the balloon. The balloon is inflated so as to cause the implant to open, responsively to the varying radial dimension of the balloon, into an expanded shape that approximately matches the varying diameter of the body passage, thus anchoring the implant in the body passage.

Abstract: A method and apparatus (30) for modifying contractility of the heart of a patient. The method includes receiving signals from a sensor (22, 23, 46) coupled to the body of the patient indicative of physiological activity. The signals are analyzed to derive a measure of the physiological activity, and excitable tissue control (ETC) stimulation is applied to the heart (20) so as to enhance contractility of the heart muscle responsive to the measure.

Abstract: According to a method and device for modulating intracellular calcium concentration in biological tissue, a stimulation probe is applied to the tissue, a non-excitatory stimulation pulse is generated, and the pulse is conveyed to the stimulation probe. In one embodiment concerning cardiac tissue, a stimulation probe is applied to a patient's heart, a signal is received from at least one sensor responsive to the patient's cardiac muscle activity, a non-excitatory stimulation pulse responsive to the signal is generated, and the pulse is conveyed to the stimulation probe.

Abstract: A method of promoting the healing of a lesion in a smooth muscle (200), comprises selecting a smooth muscle portion having a lesion, and applying a non-excitory electric field (210) to the portion, which reduces the mechanical activity of the portion.

Abstract: A method of promoting the healing of a lesion in a smooth muscle, comprising selecting a smooth muscle portion having a lesion and applying a non-excitatory electrical field to the portion, which field reduces the mechanical activity of the portion.

Abstract: An apparatus for blocking the electric activity of an area of tissue, comprises circuitry (S) for creating a long non-excitatory electric signal between at least two points (R1, R2) located in the vicinity of a muscle.

Abstract: A method of modifying the force of contraction of at least a portion of a heart chamber, including providing a subject having a heart, comprising at least a portion having an activation, and applying a non-excitatory electric field having a given duration, at a delay after the activation, to the portion, which causes the force of contraction to be increased by a least 5%.

Abstract: Apparatus (18) is provided for sensing electrical activity of a pancreas (20) of a patient. The apparatus (18) includes a set of one or more electrodes (100), adapted to be coupled to the pancreas (20), and to generate activity signals indicative of electrical activity of pancreatic cells which are in a plurality of islets of the pancreas (20). The apparatus (18) also includes a control unit (90), adapted to receive the activity signals, and to generate an output signal responsive thereto.