Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for use with a heart of a subject, including a set of one or more electrodes. A control unit paces the heart by driving a first electric current via the electrode set into tissue of the subject, in accordance with a first set of parameters. The control unit stimulates nitric oxide production by a portion of the heart by driving a second electric current via the electrode set into the portion of the heart, in accordance with a second set of parameters. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A sterile artificial bone product is provided. The sterile artificial bone product comprises a sintered porous ceramic foam material having a density of 0.3 to 1.5 g/cc, and a porosity of 40 to 95%, pores of the material having a pore diameter distribution of 10-500 microns. Additionally, a bioactive compound is coupled to the ceramic foam material. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for treating obstructive sleep apnea. The apparatus has an external device containing a breathing sensor to sense activity associated with breathing of a subject, and also containing a control unit, coupled to the breathing sensor, for generating a signal in response to anatomical activity associated with breathing. The apparatus also has a sublingual implant, containing a receiver, electrodes and circuitry, which wirelessly receives a signal from the external device and applies current to a sublingual muscle site in response to the signal, in a plurality of successive periods of inspiration, even in the absence of a detection of apnea by the external device.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for use with a gingival periosteum lining a bone. The apparatus comprises a periosteal mesher, which comprises a mesher surface, and a plurality of cutting elements distributed over the mesher surface, which are configured to cut the gingival periosteum to increase flexibility thereof. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided including an assembly (22) and a control unit (36). The assembly (22) includes a housing (34) configured to be applied to a nerve (20) of a subject, and at least one cathode (30) and at least one Peltier cooler (32), which are fixed to the housing (34). The control unit (36) is configured to drive the cathode (30) to apply an activating current to the nerve (20) that generates action potentials traveling in first and second directions (38 and 40) in the nerve (20), and the Peltier cooler (32) to cool the nerve (20) sufficiently to block propagation of at least a portion of the cathode-generated action potentials traveling in the second direction (40). Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for preventing stroke. The apparatus includes a housing, and a blood rotation device coupled to the housing. The blood rotation device facilitates the preventing of the stroke by rotating blood flowing through an artery of a subject, without the device storing energy during systole of the subject that is subsequently released by the device during diastole of the subject. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described including a mechanical support element that is placed inside a first vein of a subject. At least one electrode disposed on the mechanical support element is placed inside the first vein, in a vicinity of a site upstream of a bifurcation with a second vein of the subject. A control unit enhances downstream blood flow from the first vein by driving the at least one electrode to divert blood downstream into the second vein by constricting the first vein at the upstream site, by driving the at least one electrode to apply a current to the vicinity of the site. The mechanical support element prevents the first vein from collapsing by providing mechanical support to the vein. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described including identifying a subject as suffering from a condition selected from the group consisting of congestive heart failure, diastolic heart failure, acute myocardial infarction, and hypertension. In response to the identifying, an electrode is placed on the subject's aorta at an aortic site that is between a bifurcation of the aorta with the subject's left subclavian artery and a bifurcation of the aorta with the subject's fifth intercostal artery. The subject is treated by electrically stimulating the aortic site by driving a current into the aortic site, via the electrode. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described, including at least one tool configured to be placed inside a subject's mouth. A first optically-visible marker is coupled to the tool. A second optically-visible marker is coupled to a structure inside the subject's mouth. A plurality of optical cameras are coupled to the tool, and are placed inside the subject's mouth by the tool being placed inside the subject's mouth. The cameras acquire respective images of the inside of the subject's mouth, in which the second optically-visible marker is identifiable. A plurality of optical cameras that are disposed outside the subject's mouth acquire respective images of the tool, while the tool is inside the subject's mouth, in which images the first optically-visible marker is identifiable. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described, including identifying a subject as suffering from polyneuropathy. In response to the identifying, electrodes are placed within 1 mm of a tibial nerve of the subject, the electrodes being disposed on a housing that is at least partially flexible. The electrodes are driven to treat the polyneuropathy by driving a current into the tibial nerve. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for treating an eye of a subject. One or more electrodes are placed at least partially inside the subject's eye. A control unit treats the eye by driving the electrodes to apply an electrical signal to the eye that induces production of nitric oxide (NO). Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for treating menorrhagia of a subject. At least one electrode is coupled to a pelvic site of the subject. A control unit reduces nitric oxide production by pelvic tissue of the subject by driving the electrode to drive an electric current into the pelvic site of the subject. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for use with a gingival periosteum lining a bone. The apparatus comprises a periosteal mesher, which comprises a mesher surface, and a plurality of cutting elements distributed over the mesher surface, which are configured to cut the gingival periosteum to increase flexibility thereof. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided, including an elongate element that is inserted into a subject's artery via a catheter, the catheter being configured to be withdrawn from the artery subsequent to the insertion. Expandable elements are disposed on the elongate element, the expandable elements comprising respective distal tips that are substantially aligned with the elongate element. During insertion of the elongate element via the catheter, the expandable elements are in contracted states thereof. In response to the withdrawal of the catheter from the artery, the expandable elements cause the artery to change a shape thereof, by the expandable elements expanding such that the distal tips of the expandable elements contact respective contact points on the wall of the artery. Subsequently, the distal tips of the expandable elements are freed from the contact points upon pulling of the elongate element. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: An accommodating intraocular lens (AIOL) implant includes at least an anterior floating lens complex and a posterior lens complex, each of which comprises one or more optical elements, and a frame comprising one or more levers, which are coupled to the frame and the anterior floating lens complex. The levers are configured to leverage motion of the frame to move the anterior floating lens complex with respect to the posterior lens complex. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A swallowable medical treatment device is configured to initially assume a contracted state having a volume of less than 4 cm3. The device includes a gastric anchor, which initially assumes a contracted size, and which is configured to, upon coming in contact with a liquid, expand sufficiently to prevent passage of the gastric anchor through a round opening having a diameter of between 1 cm and 3 cm. The device also includes a duodenal unit, which is configured to pass through the opening, and which is coupled to the gastric anchor such that the duodenal unit is held between 1 cm and 20 cm from the gastric anchor. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A swallowable medical treatment device is configured to initially assume a contracted state having a volume of less than 4 cm3. The device includes a gastric anchor, which initially assumes a contracted size, and which is configured to, upon coming in contact with a liquid, expand sufficiently to prevent passage of the gastric anchor through a round opening having a diameter of between 1 cm and 3 cm. The device also includes a duodenal unit, which is configured to pass through the opening, and which is coupled to the gastric anchor such that the duodenal unit is held between 1 cm and 20 cm from the gastric anchor. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided, including an external device, including a mount, which is placed in front of an eye of a subject. A laser is coupled to the mount and configured to emit toward the eye radiation that is outside of 380-750 nm. A partially-transparent mirror is coupled to the mount. An intraocular device is implanted entirely in the subject's eye, and includes a plurality of stimulating electrodes, and an energy receiver, which receives the radiation from the laser and generates a voltage drop in response thereto. A plurality of photosensors detect photons and generate a signal in response thereto. Driving circuitry is coupled to the energy receiver and to the photosensors, and receives the signals from the photosensors and utilizes the voltage drop to drive the electrodes to apply currents to the retina in response to the signals from the photosensors. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described including an implantable medical device for implanting in contact with a portion of a subject's body. Glucose oxidase, having a mass thereof, is coupled to the medical device. The medical device does not have coupled thereto a mass of glucose that exceeds 0.01 percent of the mass of the glucose oxidase. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus is described including a filter, configured to be implanted in a blood vessel of a subject. An electrode is configured to be disposed in a vicinity of the blood vessel. A control unit breaks up matter that aggregates on the filter, by driving the electrode to drive a current into the blood vessel and configuring the signal to increase nitric oxide (NO) secretion by the wall. Other embodiments are also described.