Abstract: Apparatus is provided for insertion into a lumen of a body of a subject. The apparatus includes a sheath, the sheath including at least one section which is reinforced by braiding. The section extends longitudinally along at least a portion of the sheath. The sheath also includes at least one section which is substantially not reinforced, which extends longitudinally along at least the portion.

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 and apparatus for controlling uterine contractions in a female comprises providing sensors for sensing uterine contractions; providing an electric signal generator for generating signals to be applied on the uterus; providing a control unit for receiving signal corresponding to uterus contractions from the sensors and actuate said signal generator to generate a non-excitatory electric signal in a predetermined timing and duration with respect to a sensed uterine contraction; providing signal delivery leads for delivering the electric signal from the electric signal generator to predetermined locations on the uterus; sensing a uterine contraction using the sensors; and applying non-excitatory electric field at the predetermined locations on the uterus in predetermined timing and duration with respect to the sensed uterine contraction.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for modifying contractility of the heart of a patient. The method includes receiving signals from a sensor coupled to the body of the patient indicative of physical exertion by the patient. The signals are analyzed to estimate a metabolic demand of the patient, and excitable tissue control (ETC) stimulation is applied so as to enhance contractility of the heart muscle responsive to the metabolic need.

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 method for setting the parameters of an alert time window in an excitable tissue control device operative under a plurality of different cardiac conditions of a heart of a patient. The method includes providing said excitable tissue control device with a set of data including a plurality of sets of alert time window parameters. Each set of window parameters is uniquely associated with a different set of values of a plurality of cardiac condition defining parameters identifying one of the different cardiac conditions. Each set of window parameters includes at least a set of timing parameters usable for obtaining a beginning time point and an ending time point of the alert window. The sets of window parameters are obtained by processing data collected within a data collection session from a plurality of cardiac beats of the same patient under the different cardiac conditions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for modifying contractility of heart tissue. The method includes applying electrodes (34, 35, 38) to one or more sites in the heart (20) and making a determination at which of the sites, if any, to pace the heart. A parameter of an excitable tissue control (ETC) signal (50, 60) to be applied to the heart is set responsive to the determination, and the ETC signal is applied to at least one of the electrodes responsive to the parameter, so as to enhance contractility of the heart.

Abstract: The invention comprises methods of increasing contractile force and/or the motility of a GI tract. A first method comprises selecting a portion of the GI tract and applying a non-excitatory electric field to the portion, which field increases the force of contraction at the portion. A second method comprises determining a timing of a returning wave in the GI tract and applying an electric field to at least a portion of the GI tract, which electric field reduces the response of the GI tract to the returning wave.

Abstract: A fluid-phase electrode lead apparatus is disclosed, for the delivery of electrical signals to an excitable tissue. The electrode lead comprises a catheter, having distal and proximal ends, at least one electrode provided at the distal end of said catheter, electrically connectable to an electric signal generator, and electrolytic fluid is provided through the catheter at the distal end to facilitate electric conduction of an electric signal from the at least one electrode to the excitable tissue.

Abstract: A bipolar sensor for muscle tissue action potential duration estimation, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, comprising two electrodes exposed at the distal end of an electrode lead. The electrodes at said distal end are kept at a very close proximity, and the sensor is electrically connected to a processing means for processing the signal detected by the sensor. Another prefered embodiment of the bipolar sensor for muscle tissue action potential duration estimation comprises two electrodes positioned at a side wall of an electrode lead, wherein said electrodes are kept at a very close proximity, and wherein said sensor is electrically connected to a processing means for processing the signal detected by the sensor.

Abstract: This invention is an apparatus for heart packing with cardiac output modification, including one or more electrodes (27, 29) which apply electrical signals to muscle. Signal generation circuitry (26) applies an excitatory electrical pulse to at least one of the one or more electrodes to pace the heart and a non-excitatory stimulation pulse to at least one of the one or more electrode s to modify the cardiac output. Preferably the circuitry synchronizes the non-excitatory stimulation pulse with the pacing pulse.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for obtaining from a patient's heart data useful for on-line setting of the parameters of a detection time window in an excitable tissue control device. The method includes applying electrodes to a first cardiac site and a second cardiac site of a patient and electrically connecting the electrodes to a data collecting device. The device is then operated under a plurality of different cardiac conditions to obtain a plurality of different histogram data sets. Each histogram data set represents a cumulative time distribution histogram of cardiac depolarization events detected at the second cardiac site in a plurality of cardiac beats. Each histogram data set is defined by a plurality of histogram parameters having values indicative of the cardiac conditions common to the plurality of cardiac beats used to obtain the histogram data set.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing a medical procedure on a beating heart. Electrical signals are applied to the heart so as to reduce motion of a segment thereof, and the procedure is performed while the heart continues to pump blood. Preferably, the motion increases spontaneously after the signals are removed.

Abstract: A method and devices for timing the delivery of non-excitatory signals for modifying myocardial contractility of a portion of the heart are disclosed. The method includes the steps of applying electrodes to a plurality of cardiac sites, sensing electrical activity in a first cardiac site through a first electrode for detecting a first electrical depolarization event within a beat cycle, sensing electrical activity in a second cardiac site through a second electrode for detecting a second electrical depolarization event within the beat cycle, and applying a non-excitatory signal to the heart at or near at least the second cardiac site through at least one of the electrodes in response to detecting the second electrical depolarization event within an alert window period. The alert window period starts at a first delay from the time of detection of the first electrical depolarization event and has a first duration.

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 and device for controlling the delivery of cardiac contractility modulating signals to the heart are disclosed. The method includes applying electrodes to a heart, sensing electrical activity in a first cardiac chamber and in at least a second cardiac chamber to detect events within a cardiac beat cycle and applying a cardiac contractility modulating signal to the heart at or about the first cardiac chamber in response to detecting an event within an alert window time interval. The applying of the cardiac contractility modulating signal is inhibited in response to detecting one or more inhibitory events occurring within specific time intervals defined within a current beat cycle. The method also includes the ignoring of events associated with expected electrical artifact signals if they occur within the duration of specified time intervals, to increase the therapy efficacy.

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 at least 5%.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically controlling the delivery of excitable tissue control signals to a heart. The apparatus includes an excitable tissue control unit for delivering excitable tissue control signals to the heart, an action potential duration (APD) determining unit for receiving sensed cardiac action potential related signals. The APD determining unit determines an estimated action potential duration value from one or more action potential related signals, computes one or more excitable tissue control signal parameters, and controls the delivery of excitable tissue control signals based on the computed signal parameter(s). The cardiac action potential related signals may be cardiac close bipolar electrogram signals and cardiac monophasic action potential signals. Methods are disclosed for use with the apparatus to control the delivery of excitable tissue control signals to the heart.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for determining a mechanical property of an organ or a body part. The method includes positioning an impedance sensor within a blood vessel. The impedance sensor has at least two electrodes disposed within the blood vessel, which is mechanically coupled to the organ or body part. The method further includes determining the electrical impedance between the two electrodes to obtain an impedance signal correlated with the mechanical property of the organ or body part. The organ may be the heart, lungs, uterus, urinary bladder, part of the gastrointestinal tract and the brain. The impedance sensor includes at least two spaced apart electrodes capable of being disposed within a blood vessel. The sensor is operatively connected to an impedance determining unit which determines the impedance between the electrodes. The impedance sensor may be a part of an insertable or implantable lead or catheter like device.

Abstract: A catheter is disclosed, comprising an elongated body, having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein at the distal end of said catheter a cap is provided, attached to said distal end, said cap provided with passage adapted to receive a guide-wire slidingly passing through it. Another preferred embodiment of the present invention is a catheter having a distal and proximal ends wherein said catheter is provided with a cap at its distal end said cap provided with a loop attached to it adapted to receive a guide-wire to pass through said loop. Yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention is a catheter having a distal and proximal ends wherein said catheter is provided with external coating said coating at the distal end of the catheter provided with a cleavage and a perforation substantially opposite the cleavage so as to allow a guide-wire to be passed through the cleavage and be threaded through said perforation.