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: A cardiac contractility modulating (CCM) device includes an anti-arrhythmic therapy unit for detecting a cardiac arrhythmia in a heart of a patient based on processing electrical signals related to cardiac activity sensed at the heart, and for delivering anti-arrhythmic therapy to the heart. The device includes a cardiac contractility modulating unit capable of delivering cardiac contractility modulating signals to the heart for modulating the contractility of a portion of the heart. The device may provide to the anti-arrhythmic therapy unit control signals associated with the delivery of the CCM signals to the heart. The control signals may be used to prevent interference of the CCM signals with the detecting of the cardiac arrhythmia. The device includes a power source. The device may be an implantable device or a non-implantable device. The device may also include a pacing unit.

Abstract: Apparatus (18) for performing a medical procedure on a beating heart (20) includes a mechanical stabilization element (25), a surface (27) of which is adapted to be applied to a segment (24) of the heart to reduce motion of the segment. One or more electrodes (100) are fixed to the surface of the stabilization element, so as to contact the segment when the stabilization element is applied to the segment. Preferably, at least one of the one or more electrodes is adapted to apply electrical signals to the segment so as to further reduce motion thereof, while the heart continues to pump blood.

Abstract: A device for measuring simultaneously the phase at each point of an image formed by light reflected from a sample in which the phase has been modified by plasma resonance in a thin conducting layer, the device comprising a thick transparent substrate (10) on which a thin layer of conducting material is deposited (13); a light source (1); an interferometer; an imaging means (9); and a processing means.

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: A method and apparatus for manufacturing patterns on a reticle blank comprising a substrate made from material transparent to UV irradiation and having a first surface and a second opposite surface, the first surface coated with a chrome layer. The method comprises providing ultra-short pulsed laser beams, focusing means, relative displacement facilitator for facilitating relative displacement of the reticle blank relative to said at least one of a plurality of target locations, and a controller for controlling the synchronization and operation of the laser beam source, the focusing means and the relative displacement facilitator. Ultra-short pulsed laser beam is irradiated in a predetermined pattern directed at the second surface and passing through the substrate, focused on the chrome layer or on its proximity.

Abstract: A method and system for incorporating thematic content from a particular television program into product or service advertisements uses program-advancing elements of a television program in an advertisement for a sponsor of the program in order to entice viewers to watch the advertisements. Increased viewership of advertisements can result in increased revenue generated from advertisements that may be realized by television programs, television producers, networks, and advertisers.