Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for use with a heating device (26) configured to heat at least a portion of a subject's body. A nanoparticle (22) is configured to be administered to the subject, the nanoparticle including at least one inner core (30) that includes a magnetic material having a Curie temperature; a phase-change-material layer (31) that surrounds the inner core and that comprises a phase-change material that is configured to absorb latent heat of fusion by undergoing a phase change selected from the group consisting of: solid to liquid, and gel to liquid, the phase-change occurring at a phase-change temperature that is lower than the Curie temperature; and an outer layer (32) disposed around the phase-change-material layer, the outer layer comprising a plurality of nano-subparticles (34) that are separated from one another, such as to form a segmented layer. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: A system is provided for use with a subject suffering from cancer that includes one or more primary or metastatic solid tumors. The system includes nanoparticles including a magnetic metallic core and a phase-change material (PCM) that surrounds the magnetic metallic core and is configured to absorb latent heat of fusion by undergoing a phase change that occurs at a phase-change temperature of 42-80 degrees C. A radiofrequency (RF) transmitter is configured to transmit energy, in a pulse train alternating between high power and low power at a pulse frequency of 1 Hz-5 Hz, to at least a portion of the subject's body, such so that the nanoparticles are heated to the phase-change temperature of the PCM, and store energy from the pulse train in the PCM as latent heat of fusion. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for use with a heating device (26) configured to heat at least a portion of a subject's body. A nanoparticle (22) is configured to be administered to the subject, the nanoparticle including at least one inner core (30) that includes a magnetic material having a Curie temperature; a phase-change-material layer (31) that surrounds the inner core and that comprises a phase-change material that is configured to absorb latent heat of fusion by undergoing a phase change selected from the group consisting of: solid to liquid, and gel to liquid, the phase-change occurring at a phase-change temperature that is lower than the Curie temperature; and an outer layer (32) disposed around the phase-change-material layer, the outer layer comprising a plurality of nano-subparticles (34) that are separated from one another, such as to form a segmented layer. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for use with a subject suffering from cancer. A nanoparticle (22) includes an inner core (30) that comprises a phase-change material that is configured to absorb latent heat of fusion by undergoing a phase change. An outer layer (32) disposed around the inner core includes a plurality of nano-spheres (34) of at least one metal, and a plurality of molecules (38) of a substance that binds preferentially with cancerous cells relative to non-cancerous cells. The nanoparticle has a volume of at least 65,000 nm3 and is elongatable into an ellipsoid, such that, when the nanoparticle is maximally elongated, each of the semi-axes defined by the ellipsoid is greater than 5 nm, and at least two of the semi axes of the ellipsoid are less than 30 nm. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for use with a subject suffering from cancer. A nanoparticle (22) includes an inner core (30) that comprises a phase-change material that is configured to absorb latent heat of fusion by undergoing a phase change. An outer layer (32) disposed around the inner core includes a plurality of nano-spheres (34) of at least one metal, and a plurality of molecules (38) of a substance that binds preferentially with cancerous cells relative to non-cancerous cells. The nanoparticle has a volume of at least 65,000 nm3 and is elongatable into an ellipsoid, such that, when the nanoparticle is maximally elongated, each of the semi-axes defined by the ellipsoid is greater than 5 nm, and at least two of the semi axes of the ellipsoid are less than 30 nm. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for use with a subject suffering from cancer. A nanoparticle (22) includes an inner core (30) that comprises a phase-change material that is configured to absorb latent heat of fusion by undergoing a phase change. An outer layer (32) disposed around the inner core includes a plurality of nano-spheres (34) of at least one metal, and a plurality of molecules (38) of a substance that binds preferentially with cancerous cells relative to non-cancerous cells. The nanoparticle has a volume of at least 65,000 nm3 and is elongatable into an ellipsoid, such that, when the nanoparticle is maximally elongated, each of the semi-axes defined by the ellipsoid is greater than 5 nm, and at least two of the semi axes of the ellipsoid are less than 30 nm. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for use with a subject suffering from cancer. A nanoparticle (22) includes an inner core (30) that comprises a phase-change material that is configured to absorb latent heat of fusion by undergoing a phase change. An outer layer (32) disposed around the inner core includes a plurality of nano-spheres (34) of at least one metal, and a plurality of molecules (38) of a substance that binds preferentially with cancerous cells relative to non-cancerous cells. The nanoparticle has a volume of at least 65,000 nm3 and is elongatable into an ellipsoid, such that, when the nanoparticle is maximally elongated, each of the semi-axes defined by the ellipsoid is greater than 5 nm, and at least two of the semi axes of the ellipsoid are less than 30 nm. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: A method is provided, including, delivering into a heart of a patient an annuloplasty ring structure including a body portion and an adjusting mechanism configured to adjust a size of the body portion of the annuloplasty ring structure, the adjusting mechanism including a housing, and following the delivering, moving the housing with respect to the body portion. Other applications are also described.