Abstract: Apparatus is provided that is configured to be deployed in a lumen of a blood vessel of a subject. The apparatus includes a pump portion, including an anchor configured to engage a wall of the blood vessel in order to maintain the apparatus in place within the blood vessel, and a reciprocating valve coupled to the anchor and including a set of one or more leaflets. A valve driver is configured to drive the reciprocating valve in a reciprocating pattern between (i) a first state in which the leaflets are in an open configuration allowing blood flow through the reciprocating valve, and (ii) a second state in which the leaflets are in a closed configuration inhibiting blood flow through the reciprocating valve. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described, including apparatus (20) for implanting in a heart of a human subject. The apparatus includes an interatrial anchor (22) shaped to define an opening (26) having a diameter of 4-8 mm, and a bag (24) in fluid communication with the opening of the anchor. The apparatus is shaped to fit within a right atrium of the heart of the subject, and has a capacity of between 4 and 20 cm3. Other applications 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 is provided for accessing a pericardial space of a subject. The method includes advancing a guide member toward a heart, having (a) a transparent blunt distal end, and (b) a side-facing suction port. During advancing of the guide member, an imaging device disposed in the guide member generates an image of part of the heart. Subsequently to contacting the pericardium with the suction port, the imaging device is retracted proximally in the guide member. Subsequently, a portion of the pericardium is drawn into the guide member through the suction port. Following the drawing of the portion into the guide member, an image of the pericardium disposed within the suction port, is generated. Subsequently, a puncturing element is advanced in the guide member to puncture the portion of the pericardium that is in the guide member. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: An accommodating intraocular lens implant includes (a) a posterior lens unit and (b) an anterior assembly, which includes first and second anterior components, each of which comprises exactly one polymeric piece. The first anterior component is shaped so as to define an anterior floating lens unit and levers. The second anterior component (a) is assembled with the first anterior component such that the first and the second anterior components are separable from each other without tearing the anterior components, and (b) is shaped so as to define (i) an anterior rim complex, and (ii) anterior rim links, which are connected to the anterior rim complex. The levers are in jointed connection with the anterior floating lens unit, the anterior rim links, and the posterior lens unit. The levers are arranged to move the anterior floating lens unit toward and away from the anterior rim complex.

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: 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.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described, including apparatus (20) for implanting in a heart of a human subject. The apparatus includes an interatrial anchor (22) shaped to define an opening (26) having a diameter of 4-8 mm, and a bag (24) in fluid communication with the opening of the anchor. The apparatus is shaped to fit within a right atrium of the heart of the subject, and has a capacity of between 4 and 20 cm3. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: An accommodating intraocular lens implant is provided that includes a bowl-shaped posterior lens unit, which comprises a posterior lens, and has an inner surface; an anterior floating lens unit, which comprises an anterior lens; and a plurality of levers, which (a) are in jointed connection with the anterior floating lens unit and the posterior lens unit, and (b) are arranged to move the anterior floating lens unit toward and away from the posterior lens unit, in an anterior-posterior direction. The lens implant is shaped such that the inner surface limits posterior motion of the anterior floating lens unit.

Abstract: A method is provided that includes implanting (a) a parenchymal electrode in or in contact with an outer surface of brain parenchyma of a subject identified as at risk of or suffering from a disease, and (b) a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) electrode 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. A midplane treatment electrode is disposed in or over a superior sagittal sinus. Control circuitry is activated to drive the parenchymal electrode and the CSF electrode to drive a substance from the brain parenchyma into the CSF-filled space of the brain, and apply a treatment current between the CSF electrode and the midplane treatment electrode to drive the substance from the CSF-filled space of the brain to the superior sagittal sinus. Other embodiments are also described.

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 Alzheimer's disease; and a ventricular electrode, configured to be implanted in a ventricular system of a brain of the subject. Control circuitry is configured to drive the parenchymal and the ventricular electrodes to clear a substance from the brain parenchyma into the ventricular system. 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: Apparatus is provided for expanding a Schlemm's canal of an eye of a subject, the apparatus including an introducer having a lumen and a plurality of expandable porous structures sized and shaped to be disposed with the lumen. The expandable porous structures are configured (a) to be inserted into the Schlemm's canal at discrete locations around the canal, (b) to be inserted into the Schlemm's canal while in a collapsed form, and (c) to expand while inside the Schlemm's canal.

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: 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 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: 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: 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: Apparatus comprising an ultrasound ablation system, which comprises a reflection-facilitation element, configured to be placed at an extramyocardial site of a subject, and to provide an extramyocardial reflective region; and an ultrasound tool, which comprises at least one ultrasound transducer configured to be positioned within a heart chamber of the subject. The ultrasound transducer is configured to ablate myocardial tissue by applying ultrasound energy to the myocardial tissue such that at least a portion of the transmitted energy is reflected by the reflective region onto the myocardial tissue. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided that includes at least one intra-pulposus exposed electrode surface, configured to be implanted in a nucleus pulposus of an intervertebral disc, and a plurality of extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces, configured to be implanted outside the nucleus pulposus, in electrical communication with the intervertebral disc. Control circuitry is configured to separately control at least two of the plurality of extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces, and to repeatedly alternatively assume: (a) a pressure-increasing mode of operation, in which fluid is electroosmotically driven into the nucleus pulposus to increase pressure in the intervertebral disc, by applying a first mean voltage of less than 1.23 V between the exposed electrode surfaces, and (b) an oxygen-generating mode of operation, in which oxygen is generated within the nucleus pulposus by electrolysis, by applying a second mean voltage of at least 1.23 V between the exposed electrode surfaces. Other embodiments are also described.