Abstract: A method is provided including disposing midplane treatment electrodes over a superior sagittal sinus, outside and in electrical contact with a skull of a head of a subject identified as at risk of or suffering from Alzheimer's disease. Lateral treatment electrodes are disposed between 1 and 12 cm of a sagittal midplane of the skull. The subject is treated by clearing amyloid beta, by activating control circuitry to apply one or more treatment currents between (a) one or more of the midplane treatment electrodes and (b) one or more of the lateral treatment electrodes; and configure the midplane treatment electrodes as cathodes, and the lateral treatment electrodes as anodes. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: An implant includes a housing that houses circuitry that is electrically coupled to one or more electrodes. The implant includes an antenna that is electrically coupled to the circuitry. The antenna has a pre-treatment state in which the antenna is not shaped to receive wireless power for treating a subject, and a treatment state in which the antenna is shaped to receive wireless power and to anchor the implant with respect to a nerve of the subject. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for treating hyaline cartilage of a subject, the apparatus including a chondral implant, which includes a first exposed electrode surface and which is configured to be implanted in osteochondral tissue of the subject. A second exposed electrode surface is configured to be implanted in a body of the subject. Control circuitry is configured to promote regeneration of the hyaline cartilage by driving the first and the second exposed electrode surfaces to drive nutrients toward the first exposed electrode surface. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A mechanical circulatory assist device is provided including a stent, a coiled wire wound around the stent, and a reciprocating valve including a housing, one or more leaflets coupled to the housing, and one or more permanent magnets coupled to the housing. The magnets are arranged to interact with a magnetic field generated by the coiled wire when current flows therethrough, so as to axially move the reciprocating valve with respect to the stent when the reciprocating valve is disposed within the stent. Upstream axial motion of the reciprocating valve causes the leaflets to be in an open state in which they allow blood flow through the reciprocating valve. Downstream axial motion of the reciprocating valve causes the leaflets to be in a closed state in which they inhibit blood flow through the reciprocating valve. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A method is provided for treating an intervertebral disc of a subject, the method including implanting at least one intra-pulposus exposed electrode surface in a nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc, and implanting one or more extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces outside the nucleus pulposus, in electrical communication with the intervertebral disc. Control circuitry, while electrically coupled to the at least one intra-pulposus exposed electrode surface and the one or more extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces, is activated to drive fluid and introduce nutritional substances into the intervertebral disc, by applying a voltage between the at least one intra-pulposus exposed electrode surface and the one or more extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided that includes a two-dimensional arrangement (70) of extracranial electrodes (30), configured to be placed outside and in electrical contact with a skull of a subject identified as at risk of or suffering from a disease; and a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) electrode (32), configured to be implanted in a ventricular system of a brain of the subject. Control circuitry is configured to drive the extracranial and the CSF electrodes (30, 32) to clear a substance from brain parenchyma of the subject into at least one region of the brain selected from the group consisting of: a subarachnoid space of the brain and dural sinuses of the brain. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A method is provided including disposing midplane treatment electrodes over a superior sagittal sinus, outside and in electrical contact with a skull of a head of a subject identified as at risk of or suffering from Alzheimer's disease. Lateral treatment electrodes are disposed between 1 and 12 cm of a sagittal midplane of the skull. The subject is treated by clearing amyloid beta, by activating control circuitry to apply one or more treatment currents between (a) one or more of the midplane treatment electrodes and (b) one or more of the lateral treatment electrodes; and configure the midplane treatment electrodes as cathodes, and the lateral treatment electrodes as anodes. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A method is provided including disposing central electrodes outside and in electrical contact with a skull of a head of a subject identified as at risk of or suffering from Alzheimer's disease, within one cm of a sagittal midplane of the skull; and disposing peripheral electrodes outside and in electrical contact with the skull, superior to an orbitomeatal plane of the skull and inferior to a first plane midway between the orbitomeatal plane and a cranial vertex of the skull, the first plane parallel to the orbitomeatal plane. The subject is treated by clearing amyloid beta, tau protein, and/or metal ions from brain parenchyma to a subarachnoid space, by activating control circuitry to apply respective currents between one or more of the central electrodes and two or more of the peripheral electrodes, and configure the central electrodes as cathodes and the peripheral electrodes as anodes. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: An implant includes a housing that houses circuitry that is electrically coupled to one or more electrodes. The implant includes an antenna that is electrically coupled to the circuitry. The antenna has a pre-treatment state in which the antenna is not shaped to receive wireless power for treating a subject, and a treatment state in which the antenna is shaped to receive wireless power and to anchor the implant with respect to a nerve of the subject. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A method for repairing a heart includes identifying a heart of a patient as having a reduced ejection fraction. In response to the identifying, wall stress of a ventricle of the heart is reduced by implanting apparatus that facilitates cyclical moving of fluid that is not blood of the patient into and out of the ventricle of the heart. During ventricular diastole, a volume of the fluid is moved into the ventricle in a manner that produces a corresponding decrease in a total volume of blood that fills the ventricle during diastole. During ventricular systole, the volume of the fluid is moved out of the ventricle in a manner that produces a corresponding decrease in a total volume of the ventricle during isovolumetric contraction of the ventricle. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: An electrical amyloid beta-clearance system for treating a subject identified as at risk of or suffering from Alzheimer's disease is provided, the system including midplane treatment electrodes, adapted to be disposed over a superior sagittal sinus, outside and in electrical contact with a skull of a head of the subject; lateral treatment electrodes, adapted to be disposed between 1 and 12 cm of a sagittal midplane of the skull; and control circuitry, configured to clear amyloid beta from a subarachnoid space to the superior sagittal sinus, by applying one or more treatment currents between (a) one or more of the midplane treatment electrodes and (b) one or more of the lateral treatment electrodes. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A method of treating diastolic heart failure includes implanting a cardiac implant in a heart of a subject diagnosed as suffering from diastolic heart failure. A superior portion of a flexible tether of the cardiac implant is anchored to one or more left-atrial sites of one or more walls of the left atrium. An inferior portion of the flexible tether is anchored to a site of a wall of a mid third of the left ventricle, of a wall of an apical third of the left ventricle, and/or of a papillary muscle of the left ventricle. As a result, the flexible tether reduces a volume of the left atrium during at least a portion of ventricular diastole of each cardiac cycle, thereby enhancing ventricular filling. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A method of treating hyaline cartilage of a subject is provided, the method including implanting a first exposed electrode surface in osteochondral tissue of the subject, and implanting a second exposed electrode surface in a body of the subject. Regeneration of the hyaline cartilage is promoted by activating control circuitry to drive the first and the second exposed electrode surfaces to drive nutrients toward the first exposed electrode surface. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A method is provided that includes providing an electrode, which includes a wire that has a wire diameter of between 75 and 125 microns. The wire includes a non-electrically-insulated current-application longitudinal segment, which, in the absence of any applied forces, is coiled and has (i) an outer coil diameter of between 3 and 7 times the wire diameter, and (ii) an entire longitudinal length of between 5 and 35 mm. The wire further includes an electrically-insulated lead longitudinal segment, which has an entire longitudinal length of at least 10 mm, in the absence of any applied forces. At least a portion of the electrode is implanted in a body of a subject. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for treating an intervertebral disc of a subject, the apparatus including at least one intra-pulposus exposed electrode surface, which is configured to be implanted in a nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc; and one or more extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces, which are configured to be implanted outside the nucleus pulposus, in electrical communication with the intervertebral disc. Control circuitry is electrically coupled to the at least one intra-pulposus exposed electrode surface and one or more extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces. The control circuitry is configured to treat disc herniation by applying a voltage of less than 1.2 V between the at least one intra-pulposus exposed electrode surface and the one or more extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: An accommodating intraocular lens implant includes an anterior floating lens unit, a posterior lens unit, an anterior rim complex disposed such that the anterior floating lens unit is movable toward and away from the anterior rim complex. A plurality of levers are in jointed connection with: the anterior floating lens unit at respective first longitudinal sites along the levers, the anterior rim complex at respective second longitudinal sites along the levers, and the posterior lens unit at respective third longitudinal sites along the levers. The respective second longitudinal sites are longitudinally between the respective first and the respective third longitudinal sites. The levers are arranged (a) such that the third longitudinal sites serve as respective fulcrums for the plurality of levers, and (b) to move the anterior floating lens unit toward and away from the anterior rim complex, in the anterior-posterior direction. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A method for repairing a heart includes identifying a heart of a patient as having a reduced ejection fraction. In response to the identifying, wall stress of a ventricle of the heart is reduced by implanting apparatus that facilitates cyclical moving of fluid that is not blood of the patient into and out of the ventricle of the heart. During ventricular diastole, a volume of the fluid is moved into the ventricle in a manner that produces a corresponding decrease in a total volume of blood that fills the ventricle during diastole. During ventricular systole, the volume of the fluid is moved out of the ventricle in a manner that produces a corresponding decrease in a total volume of the ventricle during isovolumetric contraction of the ventricle. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: An electrode is provided that includes a wire that has a wire diameter of between 75 and 125 microns. The electrode includes a non-electrically-insulated current-application longitudinal segment, which, in the absence of any applied forces, is coiled and has (i) an outer coil diameter of between 3 and 7 times the wire diameter, and (ii) an entire longitudinal length of between 5 and 35 mm. The electrode further includes an electrically-insulated lead longitudinal segment, which has an entire longitudinal length of at least 10 mm, in the absence of any applied forces. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus includes a flexible intraventricular receptacle that assumes a first volume upon passage of fluid that is not blood into the receptacle and a second, smaller volume upon passage of the fluid out of the receptacle. An expandable extracardiac receptacle expands upon transfer of the fluid into the extracardiac receptacle from the intraventricular receptacle and contracts upon passage of the fluid out of the extracardiac receptacle. A transmyocardial conduit allows passage of the fluid between the intraventricular receptacle and the extracardiac receptacle responsively to a cardiac cycle. During ventricular systole, a volume of fluid is expelled from the intraventricular receptacle, through the conduit, and into the extracardiac receptacle, producing a corresponding decrease in a total volume of the ventricle during isovolumetric contraction of the ventricle. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: An electrical brain treatment system includes a parenchymal electrode, configured to be implanted in direct physical contact with brain parenchyma or meninges of the brain of a subject identified as at risk of or suffering from a disease; and a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) electrode, configured to be implanted in a CSF-filled space selected from a ventricular system and a subarachnoid space. Control circuitry is electrically coupled to the parenchymal electrode and the CSF electrode, and is configured to clear a substance from the brain parenchyma into the CSF-filled space of the brain by applying direct current between the parenchymal electrode and the CSF electrode as a series of pulses, with an average amplitude of between 0.25 and 0.5 mA, an average pulse width of between 0.5 and 2 ms, and an average frequency of between 1 and 5 Hz. Other embodiments are also described.