Abstract: Apparatus is provided that includes a parenchymal electrode, configured to be implanted in brain parenchyma of a subject identified as at risk of or suffering from a synucleinopathy; and a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) electrode, configured to be implanted in a CSF-filled space of a brain of the subject, the CSF-filled space selected from the group consisting of: a ventricular system and a subarachnoid space. Control circuitry is configured to drive the parenchymal and the CSF electrodes to clear alpha-synuclein (aSyn) from the brain parenchyma into the CSF-filled space of the brain. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A valve prosthesis system includes a prosthetic aortic valve and a non-implantable unit. The prosthetic aortic valve includes a plurality of prosthetic leaflets; a frame; a cathode and an anode, which are mechanically coupled to the frame; and a prosthetic-valve coil, which is in non-wireless electrical communication with the cathode and the anode. The prosthetic aortic valve does not include any active electronic components. The non-implantable unit includes an energy-transmission coil; sensing skin ECG electrodes; and non-implantable control circuitry, which drives the cathode and the anode to apply a pacing signal to a heart, detect at least one cardiac parameter using the sensing skin ECG electrodes, and, at least partially responsively to the detected cardiac parameter, to set parameters of the pacing signal, by wirelessly transferring energy from the energy-transmission coil to the prosthetic-valve coil by inductive coupling. 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: Apparatus is provided including a surgical tool configured to be advanced distally within a body of a subject. The surgical tool is shaped to define a side-facing suction port at a distal portion of the surgical tool to facilitate drawing tissue through the suction port and into the surgical tool, and includes a slidable transparent shutter configured to be disposed over the suction port, and to be slidably removed from the suction port. A needle is configured to be slidably disposed within the surgical tool and configured to puncture the tissue while the tissue is in the surgical tool. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided that includes one or more intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces, and a support structure along which the one or more intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces are disposed. The support structure is configured to be implanted within a nucleus pulposus of an intervertebral disc of a subject, and to be shaped as a partial ring or a complete ring after implantation. The apparatus further includes one or more extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces, which are configured to be implanted outside the nucleus pulposus, in electrical communication with the disc. Control circuitry is provided, which is configured to: configure the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces to be cathodes, and the one or more extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces to be one or more anodes, and drive the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces and the one or more extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces to electroosmotically drive fluid into the nucleus pulposus. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: An intra-pulposus exposed electrode surface (280) is configured to be implanted in a nucleus pulposus (42) of an intervertebral disc (30), and a plurality of extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces (44) is configured to be implanted outside the nucleus pulposus (42), in electrical communication with the intervertebral disc (30). Control circuitry (50) separately controls at least two of the plurality of extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces (44), and to repeatedly alternatively assume: (a) a pressure-increasing mode of operation, in which fluid is electroosmotically driven into the nucleus pulposus (42) to increase pressure in the intervertebral disc (30), by applying a first mean voltage of less than 1.23 V between the exposed electrode surfaces (280, 44), and (b) an oxygen-generating mode of operation, in which oxygen is generated within the nucleus pulposus (42) by electrolysis, by applying a second mean voltage of at least 1.23 V between the exposed electrode surfaces (280, 44).

Abstract: An accommodating intraocular lens implant is provided that includes (a) a bowl-shaped posterior component and (b) an anterior component, which includes an anterior floating lens unit, which includes an anterior lens; a circumferential rim; and levers, which connect the anterior floating lens unit to the circumferential rim, such that the anterior floating lens unit is movable toward and away from the circumferential ring in an anterior-posterior direction. The bowl-shaped posterior component and the anterior component are distinct from each other and not permanently fixed to each other, and are shaped so as to be assemblable together in situ in a human eye such that the circumferential rim contacts an interface region of an inner surface of the bowl-shaped posterior component, and the levers are pivotable about the interface region during motion of the anterior floating lens unit toward and away from the circumferential ring in the anterior-posterior direction.

Abstract: A valve prosthesis system is provided, which includes a prosthetic aortic valve and a non-implantable unit. The prosthetic aortic valve which includes a plurality of prosthetic leaflets; a frame; a cathode and an anode, which are mechanically coupled to the frame; and a prosthetic-valve coil, which is in non-wireless electrical communication with the cathode and the anode. The non-implantable unit includes an energy-transmission coil; and non-implantable control circuitry, which is configured to drive the cathode and the anode to apply a pacing signal and to set parameters of the pacing signal, by wirelessly transferring energy from the energy-transmission coil to the prosthetic-valve coil by inductive coupling. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A method is provided that includes positioning electrodes in or in contact with a head of a subject identified as in need of enhanced microglial cell activation. Control circuitry is activated to drive the electrodes to apply an electrical current to a brain of the subject in pulses having an average pulse duration of between 0.1 ms and 10 ms, and to configure the electrical current to enhance microglial cell activation for taking up amyloid beta or tau protein from brain parenchyma. The control circuitry is activated to apply the electrical current with an average amplitude of between 0.1 and 5 mA, or with an average voltage that results in between 0.1 and 5 mA current. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: An accommodating intraocular lens implant (10) is provided that is shaped so as to be assemblable into an assembled state in situ in a capsular bag of a human eye, and includes an anterior floating lens unit (24), which comprises an anterior lens (26); a posterior lens unit (50), which comprises a posterior lens (52); an anterior rim (44); levers (30), arranged to move the anterior floating lens unit (24) toward and away from the anterior rim (44), in an anterior-posterior direction; and a circumferential rim (48), which is attached to the levers (30). The lens implant (10) is arranged such that in the assemble state: elastic potential energy is stored in the lens implant (10) as a result of deformation of the lens implant (10) during a transition from a fully-accommodated state to a fully-unaccommodated state, and at least 50% of the elastic potential energy stored in the lens implant (10) as the result of the deformation is stored in the circumferential rim (48).

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: Apparatus is provided for deployment in a lumen of a blood vessel of a subject. The apparatus includes a reciprocating device configured to move downstream and upstream in the blood vessel in a reciprocating pattern to provide: (i) a first effective surface area of the device for pushing blood downstream in the blood vessel during downstream motion of the reciprocating device, and (ii) second effective surface area of the device during upstream motion of the reciprocating device. The first effective surface area is larger for pushing blood in the blood vessel than the second effective surface area. The apparatus further includes a device driver configured to drive the reciprocating device in the reciprocating pattern. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: A method is provided that includes positioning electrodes in or in contact with the head of a subject identified as in need of enhanced microglial cell activation. Control circuitry is activated to drive the electrodes to apply an electrical current to the brain of the subject, and to configure the electrical current to enhance microglial cell activation for taking up a substance from brain parenchyma. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Intraocular apparatus is provided, having an anterior side and a posterior side, and configured for use with an extraocular imaging device. The intraocular apparatus includes a photovoltaic energy receiver, or an RF energy receiver, on the anterior side which receives energy from outside the eye to power the intraocular apparatus. Additionally, the intraocular apparatus includes a photodiode on the anterior side of the intraocular apparatus which receives data from the extraocular imaging device. An application-specific-integrated-circuit (ASIC) is positioned on the posterior side of the intraocular apparatus and includes (i) circuitry configured to process the data from the photodiode into an image, (ii) an electronic display, e.g., a light-emitting diode (LED) display, which emits light representing the image, and (iii) at least two through-silicon vias connecting the ASIC to the photovoltaic energy receiver and to the photodiode. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Intraocular apparatus is provided that is shaped and sized to be implanted entirely in a subject's eye and configured for use with an extraocular imaging device. The intraocular apparatus includes an energy receiver configured to receive energy from outside the eye and to power the intraocular apparatus; a data receiver configured to receive image data from the extraocular imaging device; circuitry configured to process the data received by the data receiver into an image; an electronic display configured to emit light representing the image; and an eye-tracking sensor configured to sense a position of the subject's eye and to generate a signal in response thereto, the electronic display being configured to emit light representing a portion of the image corresponding to the position of the subject's eye sensed by the eye-tracking sensor. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A method of assembling an electronic prosthetic aortic valve is provided. The method includes inserting an electronics component into a valve component, the electronics component including one or more electrodes and a prosthetic-valve coil, and the valve component including a frame and prosthetic leaflets coupled to the frame; and coupling the electronics component to the valve component. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A method for treating hydrocephalus is provided, including disposing midplane treatment electrodes over a superior sagittal sinus of a brain, outside and in electrical contact with a skull of a head of a subject identified as suffering from hydrocephalus, and disposing lateral treatment electrodes between 1 and 12 cm of a sagittal midplane of the skull. The subject is treated by electroosmotically driving cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) out of a ventricular system of the brain via a subarachnoid space of the brain to the superior sagittal sinus, 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. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus (20) for treating an intervertebral disc (30) of a subject is provided. The apparatus (20) includes at least three intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces (40), which are configured to be implanted within a nucleus pulposus (42) of the disc (30), at different respective locations; and one or more extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces (44), which are configured to be implanted outside the nucleus pulposus (42), in electrical communication with the disc (30). Control circuitry (50) is configured to (a) configure the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces (40) to be cathodes, and the one or more extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces (44) to be one or more anodes, and (b) drive the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces (40) and the one or more extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces (44) to electroosmotically drive fluid into the nucleus pulposus (40) to increase pressure in the disc (30).

Abstract: An accommodating intraocular lens implant is provided that is shaped so as to be assemblable into an assembled state in situ in a capsular bag of a human eye, and includes an anterior floating lens unit, which comprises an anterior lens; a posterior lens unit, which comprises a posterior lens; an anterior rim; levers, arranged to move the anterior floating lens unit toward and away from the anterior rim, in an anterior-posterior direction; and a circumferential rim, which is attached to the levers. The lens implant is arranged such that in the assemble state: elastic potential energy is stored in the lens implant as a result of deformation of the lens implant during a transition from a fully-accommodated state to a fully-unaccommodated state, and at least 50% of the elastic potential energy stored in the lens implant as the result of the deformation is stored in the circumferential rim.

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.