Abstract: Apparatus is provided that includes one or more electrodes, configured to be applied to a sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG), a greater palatine nerve, a lesser palatine nerve, a sphenopalatine nerve, a communicating branch between a maxillary nerve and an SPG, an otic ganglion, an afferent fiber going into the otic ganglion, an efferent fiber going out of the otic ganglion, an infraorbital nerve, a vidian nerve, a greater superficial petrosal nerve, or a lesser deep petrosal nerve; and a control unit, configured to drive the electrodes to apply electrical stimulation to the site, and configure the stimulation to excite nervous tissue of the site at a strength sufficient to induce at least one neuroprotective occurrence selected from the group consisting of: an increase in cerebral blood flow (CBF), and a release of one or more neuroprotective substances, and insufficient to induce a significant increase in permeability of a blood-brain barrier (BBB).

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for treating a condition of a subject, including an energy transmitter, which is configured to be positioned outside a body of the subject in a vicinity of a site selected from the group consisting of: a sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG), a greater palatine nerve, a lesser palatine nerve, a sphenopalatine nerve, a communicating branch between a maxillary nerve and an SPG, an otic ganglion, an afferent fiber going into the otic ganglion, an efferent fiber going out of the otic ganglion, an infraorbital nerve, a vidian nerve, a greater superficial petrosal nerve, and a lesser deep petrosal nerve. A control unit is configured to drive the energy transmitter to transmit energy to the site, and configure the energy to stimulate the site. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided that includes one or more electrodes, configured to be applied to a sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG), a greater palatine nerve, a lesser palatine nerve, a sphenopalatine nerve, a communicating branch between a maxillary nerve and an SPG, an otic ganglion, an afferent fiber going into the otic ganglion, an efferent fiber going out of the otic ganglion, an infraorbital nerve, a vidian nerve, a greater superficial petrosal nerve, or a lesser deep petrosal nerve; and a control unit, configured to drive the electrodes to apply electrical stimulation to the site, and configure the stimulation to excite nervous tissue of the site at a strength sufficient to induce at least one neuroprotective occurrence selected from the group consisting of: an increase in cerebral blood flow (CBF), and a release of one or more neuroprotective substances, and insufficient to induce a significant increase in permeability of a blood-brain barrier (BBB).

Abstract: A method for treatment is provided, including identifying that a subject has suffered from an adverse cerebrovascular event, excluding Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Responsively to the identifying, beginning at least nine hours after the event, electrical stimulation is applied to a site of the subject selected from the group consisting of: a sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG), a greater palatine nerve, a lesser palatine nerve, a sphenopalatine nerve, a communicating branch between a maxillary nerve and an SPG, an otic ganglion, an afferent fiber going into the otic ganglion, an efferent fiber going out of the otic ganglion, an infraorbital nerve, a vidian nerve, a greater superficial petrosal nerve, and a lesser deep petrosal nerve. The stimulation is configured to excite nervous tissue of the site at a strength sufficient to induce at least an increase in cerebral blood flow (CBF) and/or a release of one or more neuroprotective substances.

Abstract: A method is provided that includes inserting a stylet into a greater palatine canal of a subject, the stylet including a proximal rod shaft, having a first diameter, and a distal rod shaft, having a second diameter less than the first diameter, such that a region between the proximal rod shaft and the distal rod shaft is shaped so as to define a shoulder. The stylet is advanced through the greater palatine canal until the shoulder reaches an entrance of a greater palatine foramen, thereby preventing insertion of the distal rod shaft into a sphenopalatine fossa of the subject beyond a depth of the greater palatine canal.

Abstract: A method for treatment is provided, including identifying that a subject has suffered from an adverse cerebrovascular event, excluding Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Responsively to the identifying, beginning at least nine hours after the event, electrical stimulation is applied to a site of the subject selected from the group consisting of: a sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG), a greater palatine nerve, a lesser palatine nerve, a sphenopalatine nerve, a communicating branch between a maxillary nerve and an SPG, an otic ganglion, an afferent fiber going into the otic ganglion, an efferent fiber going out of the otic ganglion, an infraorbital nerve, a vidian nerve, a greater superficial petrosal nerve, and a lesser deep petrosal nerve.

Abstract: Apparatus for treatment is provided, including one or more electrodes, configured to be applied to a site of a subject, and adverse cerebrovascular condition treatment functionality. The functionality comprises a control unit configured to drive the one or more electrodes to apply electrical stimulation to the site during a plurality of stimulation periods which includes at least first and last stimulation periods, set an inter-period interval between initiation of the first stimulation period and initiation of the last stimulation period to be at least 24 hours, and configure the stimulation during the first and last stimulation periods to induce at least one neuroprotective occurrence selected from the group consisting of: an increase in cerebral blood flow (CBF) of the subject, and a release of one or more neuroprotective substances.

Abstract: A method is provided including identifying that a subject has suffered a subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), and treating a complication of the SAH by stimulating at least one site of the subject in conjunction with treating the SAH, the site selected from the group consisting of: a sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG), a greater palatine nerve, a lesser palatine nerve, a sphenopalatine nerve, a communicating branch between a maxillary nerve and an SPG, an otic ganglion, an afferent fiber going into the otic ganglion, an efferent fiber going out of the otic ganglion, an infraorbital nerve, a vidian nerve, a greater superficial petrosal nerve, and a lesser deep petrosal nerve.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for modifying a property of a brain of a subject, including at least one electrode, configured to be positioned in a vicinity of a mucous membrane of a palate of an oral cavity of the subject. A control unit is configured to drive the electrode to apply an electrical current to the mucous membrane, and to configure the current to be capable of inducing an increase in cerebral blood flow (CBF) of the subject. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus for modifying a property of a brain of a patient is provided, including one or more electrodes (7), adapted to be applied to a site selected from a group of sites consisting of: a sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) (6) of the patient and a neural tract originating in or leading to the SPG. A control unit (8) is adapted to drive the one or more electrodes to apply a current to the site capable of inducing (a) an increase in permeability of a blood-brain barrier (BBB) of the patient, (b) a change in cerebral blood flow of the patient, and/or (c) an inhibition of parasympathetic activity of the SPG.

Abstract: A method is provided that includes identifying that a subject is at risk of suffering from vascular dementia (VaD). Responsively to the identifying, a risk of development of the VaD is reduced by applying electrical stimulation to a site of the subject selected from the group consisting of: a sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG), a greater palatine nerve, a lesser palatine nerve, a sphenopalatine nerve, a communicating branch between a maxillary nerve and an SPG, an otic ganglion, an afferent fiber going into the otic ganglion, an efferent fiber going out of the otic ganglion, an infraorbital nerve, a vidian nerve, a greater superficial petrosal nerve, and a lesser deep petrosal nerve; and configuring the stimulation to induce at least one neuroprotective occurrence selected from the group consisting of: an increase in cerebral blood flow of the subject, and a release of one or more neuroprotective substances. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus for modifying a property of a brain of a patient is provided, including one or more electrodes (7), adapted to be applied to a site selected from a group of sites consisting of: a sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) (6) of the patient and a neural tract originating in or leading to the SPG. A control unit (8) is adapted to drive the one or more electrodes to apply a current to the site capable of inducing (a) an increase in permeability of a blood-brain barrier (BBB) of the patient, (b) a change in cerebral blood flow of the patient, and/or (c) an inhibition of parasympathetic activity of the SPG.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided including one or more electrodes, adapted to be applied to an otic-ganglion site of a patient selected from the group consisting of: an otic ganglion, an associated neural tract of the otic ganglion, an afferent fiber going into the otic ganglion, and an efferent fiber going out of the otic ganglion. The apparatus further includes a stimulator, configured to drive the one or more electrodes to apply a current to the otic-ganglion site, and to configure the current to activate the otic-ganglion site sufficiently to induce at least one effect selected from the group consisting of: a change in cerebral blood flow (CBF) of the patient, and a change in permeability of a blood-brain-barrier (BBB) of the patient. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A method is provided for treating Alzheimer's disease (AD). The method includes stimulating a sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) of a subject so that the concentration of a substance in a brain of the subject changes.

Abstract: Apparatus for treating a subject is provided, the apparatus comprising (a) a stimulation device (352), adapted to be implanted in a vicinity of a site selected from the list consisting of: a sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) (52) of the subject and a neural tract originating in or leading to the SPG; and (b) a connecting element (356), coupled to the stimulation device (352), and adapted to be passed through at least a portion of a greater palatine canal (282) of the subject. Also provided is a method for implanting a treatment stimulation device (352) in a vicinity of a site of a subject, the method comprising passing the device (352) through a greater palatine foramen (22) of the subject, and bringing the device (352) into contact with the vicinity of the site, the site selected from the list consisting of: a sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) (52) of the subject and a neural tract originating in or leading to the SPG.

Abstract: Apparatus (1) is provided, including a first electrode (7a) and a second electrode (7b), adapted to be applied to a first site and a second site of a subject, respectively, the first site different from the second site, and the first and second sites selected from the list consisting of: a left sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) (6a), a right SPG (6b), a left vidian nerve, a right vidian nerve, a left greater palatine nerve, a right greater palatine nerve, a left lesser palatine nerve, a right lesser palatine nerve, a left sphenopalatine nerve, a right sphenopalatine nerve, a left otic ganglion, a right otic ganglion, an afferent fiber going into the left otic ganglion, an afferent fiber going into the right otic ganglion, an efferent fiber going out of the left otic ganglion, and an efferent fiber going out of the right otic ganglion.

Abstract: Apparatus for application to a subject is provided, including an elongated support element having a length of between 1.8 cm and 4 cm, and having proximal and distal ends; and one or more electrodes fixed to the support element in a vicinity of the distal end thereof, and adapted to apply an electrical current to a sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) of the subject. The apparatus further includes a receiver, fixed to the support element, and electrically coupled to the electrodes; and a wireless transmitter, adapted to be placed in an oral cavity of the subject, and to be wirelessly coupled to the receiver. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for treating a condition of an eye of a subject, comprising a stimulator adapted to stimulate at least one site of the subject, so as to treat the eye condition, the site selected from the list consisting of: a sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) of the subject, an anterior ethmoidal nerve of the subject, a posterior ethmoidal nerve of the subject, a communicating branch between an anterior ethmoidal nerve and a retro-orbital branch of an SPG of the subject, a communicating branch between a posterior ethmoidal nerve and a retro-orbital branch of an SPG of the subject, a greater palatine nerve of the subject, a lesser palatine nerve of the subject, a sphenopalatine nerve of the subject, a communicating branch between a maxillary nerve and an SPG of the subject, a nasopalatine nerve of the subject, a posterior nasal nerve of the subject, an infraorbital nerve of the subject, an otic ganglion of the subject, an afferent fiber going into the otic ganglion of the subject, an efferent fiber going ou

Abstract: Apparatus for modifying a property of a brain of a patient is provided, including one or more electrodes (7), adapted to be applied to a site selected from a group of sites consisting of: a sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) (6) of the patient and a neural tract originating in or leading to the SPG. A control unit (8) is adapted to drive the one or more electrodes to apply a current to the site capable of inducing (a) an increase in permeability of a blood-brain barrier (BBB) of the patient, (b) a change in cerebral blood flow of the patient, and/or (c) an inhibition of parasympathetic activity of the SPG.

Abstract: A method for treating a subject is provided, comprising positioning at least one electrode at least one site of the subject for less than about 3 hours, applying an electrical current to the site of the subject, and configuring the current to increase cerebral blood flow (CBF) of the subject, so as to treat a condition of the subject. The site is selected from the list consisting of: a sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) of the subject, a greater palatine nerve of the subject, a lesser palatine nerve of the subject, a sphenopalatine nerve of the subject, a communicating branch between a maxillary nerve and an SPG of the subject, an otic ganglion of the subject, an afferent fiber going into the otic ganglion of the subject, an efferent fiber going out of the otic ganglion of the subject, an infraorbital nerve of the subject, a vidian nerve of the subject, a greater superficial petrosal nerve of the subject, and a lesser deep petrosal nerve of the subject.