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: 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 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 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 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: Apparatus (18) is provided for defibrillating a heart (20) of a person. The apparatus (18) includes one or more electrodes (100) that are adapted to be coupled to the heart, and a control unit (90) that is adapted to drive the electrodes to apply electrical pulses to the heart at a rate which is typically greater than about 10 Hz. The control unit terminates the electrical pulses, so that the heart beats without fibrillation. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A cardiac contractility modulating (CCM) device (30) includes an anti-arrhythmic therapy unit (38) for detecting a cardiac arrhythmia in a heart (2) 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 (CCM) unit (40) capable of delivering cardiac contractility modulating (CCM) signals to the heart for modulating the contractility of a portion of the heart. The device (30) includes a power source (165). The device may be an implantable device or a non-implantable device. A method for delivering anti-arrhythmic therapy to a heart. The method includes applying one or more non-excitatory cardiac contractility modulating electrical signals to said heart.

Abstract: A cardiac contractility modulating (CCM) device (30) includes an anti-arrhythmic therapy unit (38) for detecting a cardiac arrhythmia in a heart (2) 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 (CCM) unit (40) capable of delivering cardiac contractility modulating (CCM) 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 (30) 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 (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: 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: A method of glucose level control comprising, providing at least one electrode adapted to apply an electric field to a pancreas; and applying an electric field to the pancreas using said at least one electrode such that blood glucose levels are significantly reduced and blood insulin levels are not significantly increased compared to a regular insulin response in a same person.

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 for inserting a lead into coronary veins of a patient. The method comprises providing a guide sheath that comprises a tube having a proximal portion and a distal portion; a lumen passing through said tube, said lumen is provided with a first opening in said proximal portion and a second opening in said distal portion, said lumen is adapted to allow the lead to pass through it; a balloon provided in said distal portion, said balloon is adapted to be inflated outwardly and circumferentially from said tube; a tubing fluidically connected to said balloon, said tubing extends from said balloon to said proximal portion. The method further comprises inserting the guide sheath into a coronary vein; inflating said balloon so as to prevent retrograde blood flow from the coronary vein; inserting the lead into the coronary vein through said lumen and placing it in a target location.

Abstract: A multi-modal cardiotherapy device (100) includes an anti-arrhythmic unit (118) for delivering multiple types of anti-arrhythmic therapy to a heart, a cardiac contractility modulating unit (108) for delivering cardiac contractility modulating signals to the heart, and for applying anti-arrhythmic cardiac contractility modulating signal therapy to the heart, one or more sensing units (112) for sensing electrical signals related to electrical activity of the heart to provide an output signal, one or more detecting units (116) operatively connected to the sensing unit(s) (112) for detecting in the output signal cardiac events of the heart, a controller unit (106) operatively connected to the anti-arrhythmic unit (118), the cardiac contractility modulating unit (108) and the detecting unit(s) (116).

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: 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.