Abstract: An accommodating intraocular lens implant includes an anterior floating lens unit, a posterior lens unit, an anterior lens link, and an anterior rim link, which comprises an anterior rim jointed element. An anterior rim complex is disposed such that the anterior floating lens unit is movable toward and away from the anterior rim complex, in an anterior-posterior direction. A lever is connected (a) at a first longitudinal site along the lever, to the anterior floating lens unit by the anterior lens link, and (b) at a second longitudinal site along the lever, to the anterior rim complex by the anterior rim link. The lever, at a third longitudinal site along the lever, is in jointed connection with the posterior lens unit. The second site is longitudinally between the first and the third sites along the lever.

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: 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.

Abstract: During a dual-signal period, a dual electric signal is applied at a site of a nerve of a subject, and during an ablation-signal period that is separate from the dual-signal period, an ablation electric signal is applied at the site. The dual electric signal has an excitation component and an ablation component, and the ablation electric signal has the ablation component but not the excitation component. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A defibrillator is provided that includes a garment, shaped to be worn around a chest of a patient; cardiac sensing electrodes, each of which is configured for placement in external or internal contact with the chest of the patient; and defibrillation electrodes, each of which is coupled to the garment for external placement near the chest of the patient, and which comprise respective reservoirs containing electrically-conductive gel, and respective liners removably covering the gel. One or more exposure actuators are configured to remove the liners from the gel. Control circuitry is configured to detect cardiac arrhythmia using the cardiac sensing electrodes, ascertain that the detected cardiac arrhythmia is a type of cardiac arrhythmia that can be treated by applying defibrillation, drive the exposure actuators to remove the liners from the gel, and, thereafter, drive the defibrillation electrodes to apply at least one defibrillation shock to the chest of the patient.

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: Apparatus is provided that includes a drug capsule containing an oral drug, and a sensing apparatus that includes a housing and a sensor. The housing is shaped so as to define exactly one hemispherical portion and exactly one cylindrical portion, which together define an internal surface tightly fitted to at least a portion of an external surface of the drug capsule. The sensor includes first and second electrodes, which comprise first and second electrode surfaces, respectively; and circuitry, which (a) is attached to the housing, (b) is electrically coupled to the first and the second electrode surfaces, and (c) is configured to drive a current between the first and the second electrode surfaces. Other embodiments 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 ablating cardiac tissue of a subject. The apparatus comprises an inflatable element, configured to be transthoracically placed within a pericardial region of the subject and a reflection-facilitation element, configured to deliver a fluid to the pericardial region, such that a portion of the fluid is disposed within the inflatable element, and another portion of the fluid is disposed outside of the inflatable element and inside the pericardial region. The apparatus additionally comprises at least one ultrasound transducer, configured to be transcatheterally placed in a heart chamber of the subject, and to apply ultrasound energy such that at least a portion of the applied energy is reflected by the fluid. 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 is provided that includes midplane treatment electrodes, configured to be disposed 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; and lateral treatment electrodes, configured to be disposed between 1 and 12 cm of a sagittal midplane of the skull. Control circuitry is configured to treat the subject by electroosmotically driving fluid 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.

Abstract: A method is provided that includes implanting a first electrode at a first site in a brain of a subject suffering from hydrocephalus, and a second electrode at a second site in the subject. The hydrocephalus is treated by electroosmotically driving fluid out of the first site, by applying a treatment voltage between the first and the second electrodes.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided, comprising first and second rails (140) and a pneumatic motor assembly (22). The assembly comprises a first motor subassembly (180), comprising a first-motor subassembly locking balloon (160), which locks the first rail to the first motor subassembly by inflation thereof; and a first-motor subassembly moving balloon (170), which moves the first rail by a mechanism of either inflation or deflation of the first-motor subassembly moving balloon, when the first-motor locking balloon is inflated. Assembly (22) additionally comprises a second motor subassembly (185), comprising a second-motor assembly locking balloon (165), which locks the second rail to the second motor subassembly by inflation thereof; and a second-motor subassembly moving balloon (175), configured to move the second rail by a mechanism selected from either inflation or deflation of the second-motor subassembly moving balloon, when the second-motor subassembly locking balloon is inflated.

Abstract: A method of treating an intervertebral disc of a subject is provided, comprising implanting, within a nucleus pulposus of the disc, at least three intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces at different respective locations; and implanting one or more extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces outside the nucleus pulposus, in electrical communication with the disc. Control circuitry is activated 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 to 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 to increase pressure in the disc. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described, including apparatus for pacing a heart of a subject. The apparatus includes an implantable pulse generator (IPG) and a coiled lead connected to the IPG. The coiled lead includes a smaller-diameter coiled portion, a lumen of which having a first coil-lumen-diameter, and a larger-diameter coiled portion electrically in series with the smaller-diameter coiled portion, a lumen of the larger-diameter coiled portion having a second coil-lumen-diameter that is larger than the first coil-lumen-diameter. A perpendicular distance from a central longitudinal axis of the smaller-diameter coiled portion to the lumen of the larger-diameter coiled portion is greater than an outer radius of the smaller-diameter coiled portion, when the central longitudinal axis of the smaller-diameter coiled portion is parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the larger-diameter coiled portion. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for treating a native joint of a subject. The apparatus comprises a flexible cuff shaped and sized to be worn, at least in part, around the native joint of the subject. A magnet is coupled to the flexible cuff such that when the flexible cuff is worn by the subject, the magnet is positioned within 8 cm, e.g., within 6 cm, from a joint cavity of the native joint. The apparatus additionally comprises a ferrofluid for placing in the joint cavity. The ferrofluid is typically maintained in place within the joint cavity by the magnet which is coupled to the cuff. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus for driving fluid between first and second anatomical sites of a subject is provided, comprising (1) a first electrode, configured to be coupled to the first anatomical site of the subject; (2) a second electrode, configured to be coupled to the second anatomical site of the subject; and (3) a control unit, configured to (i) detect a pressure difference between the first and second anatomical sites, and (ii) in response to the detected pressure difference, drive fluid between the first and second anatomical sites by applying a treatment voltage between the first and second electrodes. 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: A method includes, using a computer processor: (1) generating a map of vasculature of a subject, by: (a) displaying (i) a schematic representation of the vasculature including a blood vessel, and (ii) on the schematic representation, a first plurality of branch-site options; (b) receiving a user-selected first branch site, and responsively displaying (i) a schematic representation of a first branch of the vasculature that branches from the schematic representation of the blood vessel at the user-selected first branch site, and (ii) a second plurality of branch-site options; and (c) receiving a user-selected second branch site; (2) in response to receiving the user-selected second branch site, displaying the map; (3) detecting a physiological parameter of the subject; and (4) in response to the detected physiological parameter, determining a value for the parameter, and storing, in association with a location on the map, data representative of the value.

Abstract: Apparatus comprising a reflection-facilitation element, which is disposed in the pericardial cavity of a subject and on a first side of a tissue of the subject. The reflection-facilitation element comprises an inflatable member, having a first side and a second side, and configured to be inflated while disposed in the pericardial cavity, and a plurality of electrodes, comprising at least a first electrode and a second electrode, the first electrode being disposed on the first side of the inflatable member. The apparatus further comprises an ultrasound transducer placed on a second side of the tissue of the subject, and configured to apply ultrasound energy to the tissue of the subject such that at least a portion of the energy reaches the inflatable member. The inflatable member reflects at least a portion of the ultrasound energy that reaches the inflatable member.