Abstract: There is provided an electro-optically driven relay system (10) for switching the application of energy to a load (5). The subject relay system (10) comprises: a switch unit (100) operable responsive to a control signal; an electro-optic current generating unit (200) connected to the switch unit (100) for generating the necessary control signal responsive to an actuation signal; and, primary and supplemental drive units (300, 400) connected to the electro-optic current generating unit (200) for collectively generating the actuation signal. The primary drive unit (300) is operable responsive to a first input signal; and, the supplemental drive unit (400) is operable responsive to a second input signal to augment the actuation signal for at least a predetermined time duration. The switching response of the switch unit (100) is thereby accelerated.

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: 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: A method and apparatus for controlling activity of a heart of a living person during a medical procedure. Electrical signals are applied to the heart so as to induce a spontaneously-reversible cardioplegia thereof. The signals are preferably such that terminating application of the signals does not induce fibrillation. Most preferably, the signals have an amplitude that is below a level that would induce fibrillation upon termination thereof.

Abstract: This invention is an apparatus for modifying cardiac output of the heart of a subject, including one or more sensors which sense signals responsive to cardiac activity, and a stimulation probe including one or more stimulation electrodes which apply non-excitatory stimulation pulses to a cardiac muscle segment. Signal generation circuitry is coupled to the one or more sensors and the stimulation probe, which circuitry receives the signals from the one or more sensors and generates the non-excitatory stimulation pulses responsive to the signals.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for stimulating cardiac tissue. Pacing pulses are applied to the heart at multiple sites in at least two different chambers of the heart; and an Excitable Tissue Control (ETC) signal is applied in a vicinity of one or more of the pacing sites following application of the pacing pulse at the site.

Abstract: A removable lead for applying electrical signals to excitable tissue in a body of a subject, including at least one conductive wire and at least one electrode fixed to the wire. The electrode includes a conducting substrate having a given capacitance and a given resistance and a coating applied over the conducting substrate, such that the capacitance of the electrode with the coating is at least twice the capacitance of the substrate, and the resistance of the electrode with the coating is generally equal to the resistance of the substrate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a segment of excitable tissue, typically tissue of a heart, the segment having an intrinsic activity level. During a high phase, electrical energy of a given amplitude is applied to the segment. During a low phase, the amplitude of the electrical energy applied to the segment is reduced relative to that applied during the high phase, so that the segment's activity level increases during the low phase above the intrinsic activity level.

Abstract: A method and devices for timing the delivery of non-excitatory signals for modifying myocardial contractility of a portion of the heart. 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: A device for dragging and positioning of a member within a duct in a body comprising a rod, having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end of the rod is coupled to a loop, designed to be slidably mounted over a guidewire, and wherein said loop is provided with hooking means, onto which a member to be guide and positioned within a duct in a body is hooked, so that when advancing the rod from its distal end, the loop slides forward over the guidewire, and drags the member to the desired target location.

Abstract: An apparatus for the combined drug/electric-stimulation treatment of a cardiac muscle comprises circuitry (S) for creating a non-excitatory electric potential between at least two points (R1, R2) located in the vicinity of a muscle (H). A method for the combined drug/electric-stimulation treatment of a cardiac muscle, using the apparatus, involves controlling the start time, duration, and magnitude of the electric current flowing between said at least two points, to impart a desired change in cardiac muscle performance.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises circuitry for creating a non-excitor electric potential between at least two points located in the vicinity of a muscle. A method is provided which employs the apparatus for reducing the contraction force of a muscle.

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: 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: Apparatus and methods adapted for in vivo chronic measurement of cardiac monophasic action potentials (MAPs). The methods include, inter alia, providing a sensing electrode in contact with cardiac tissue and a reference electrode in proximity to the sensing electrode, intermittently inducing a transient localized depolarization or transient injury-like electrical currents in at least some of the cells of the cardiac tissue underlying or adjacent to the sensing electrode and measuring the potential difference between the sensing electrode and the reference electrode during at least part of the duration of the depolarization or injury-like currents. Other methods for inducing depolarization or injury-like currents in the tissue include, inter alia, localized membrane electroporation, localized electrostatic production of depolarization using voltage clamp to produce a signal representative of MAPs, localized tissue heating, localized application of ultrasound and localized irradiation with light.