Abstract: An implantable device to be positioned within a heart valve, using a delivery system comprising catheters. The device can include leaflet anchors for attaching to valve leaflets. One or more tethers can be slackened to allow the anchors to move relatively apart and/or relatively away from a spacer. The one or more tethers can be pulled to move the anchors closer to one another or and/or closer to the spacer.

Abstract: An implant (150) comprises a patch (210), a patch anchor (240), a downstream assembly (300) comprising a winch (320) coupled to a winch anchor (310), and a tether (160) tethering the winch to the patch. A delivery tool (400) has a distal portion that is transluminally advanceable to a heart while the implant is mounted on the delivery tool. The delivery tool has a shaft, a clasp (430), comprising an upstream support and a downstream support, the clasp configured to grasp a portion of a leaflet of a valve of the heart between the upstream support and the downstream support of the clasp, and a driver, configured to anchor the patch to the portion of the leaflet using the patch anchor while the portion of the leaflet remains grasped by the clasp. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided, comprising an implant-storage member (24), configured to be percutaneously advanced to a tissue (10) of a subject, and shaped to define (a) a space (26) that is configured to house an implant (22) configured to apply a current to at least the tissue, (b) an opening (28) through which the implant is deliverable to the tissue, and (c) at least one window (30), configured such that, while the implant is disposed within the space and the implant-storage member is disposed in the tissue, the window facilitates flow of the current therethrough from the implant to the tissue; and a delivery manipulator (34), reversibly couplable to the implant, and configured to facilitate delivery of the implant through the opening. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A system comprises an anchor (20) comprising an inner helical tissue-engaging element (24); an outer helical tissue-engaging element (22); and a head assembly (29). The head assembly comprises a first head (25), fixed to a proximal end of the inner tissue-engaging element, and a second head (26), fixed to a proximal end of the outer tissue-engaging element. The system further comprises a driver (28), reversibly interfacing with and engaging the first head and the second head, in order to anchor the anchor in the target tissue. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an implant that includes circuitry and an elongate housing having a first half and a second half. A paresthesia-inducing electrode is disposed on the first half, and a blocking electrode is disposed on the second half. The circuitry has a first mode in which the circuitry simultaneously drives the paresthesia-inducing electrode to apply a paresthesia-inducing current having a frequency of 2-400 Hz, and the blocking electrode to apply a blocking current having a frequency of 1-20 kHz, and a second mode in which the circuitry drives the blocking electrode to apply the blocking current, but does not drive the paresthesia-inducing electrode to apply the paresthesia-inducing current. The implant is injectable into a subject along a longitudinal axis of the implant. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: An implant system is provided, which includes an implant, including an implant body and an electrode disposed on the implant body; and a hollow needle, which is configured to be percutaneously advanceable into tissue of a subject. The hollow needle is shaped so as to define a lumen dimensioned to house the implant; at a distal end of the hollow needle, a distal end opening configured to facilitate passage of the implant therethrough from the lumen; and a lateral wall shaped so as to define a window therethrough to the lumen. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: An implant comprises: (a) an implant body that comprises: (i) at least a first longitudinal portion of the implant body that defines a given outer diameter; and (ii) a recessed longitudinal portion of the implant body that is radially recessed with respect to the first longitudinal portion of the implant body, such that an outer diameter of the recessed longitudinal portion is less than the outer diameter of the first longitudinal portion; and (b) a cuff coupled to the implant body around the recessed longitudinal portion of the implant body such that an outer diameter of the cuff does not exceed the outer diameter of the first longitudinal portion. The cuff defines a plurality of holes that are configured to facilitate anchoring of the implant body with respect to the subject's tissue, by facilitating tissue growth into the holes. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: An implant that includes an electrode is advanced to a nerve of a subject using a tube. The tube and the implant are arranged at a nonzero angle with respect to a skin surface of the subject, and the implant is passed distally from an opening of the tube, in a vicinity of a portion of the nerve. A longitudinal axis of the implant is realigned to become generally parallel with the skin surface, by proximally withdrawing the tube from the subject. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for facilitating percutaneous delivery of an implant to a target site of a body of a subject. The apparatus includes a delivery tool that includes a needle that defines a lumen through which the implant passes. The needle has a proximal end and a distal end, and defines a triple-grind bevel at the distal end. The triple-grind bevel defines a primary grind and two side-grinds. The side-grinds do not extend to meet each other to define a point at a distal-most part of the needle. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: An electrostimulator implant includes an implant body, and at least two electrodes disposed on the implant body. The implant is percutaneously injectable into tissue of a subject with a distal portion of a flexible longitudinal member coupled to the implant. The apparatus is configured to be left, for at least 1 day after injection of the implant into the tissue, in a state in which (i) the implant is disposed within the tissue, (ii) the distal portion of the longitudinal member remains coupled to the implant within the tissue, (iii) a proximal portion of the longitudinal member is disposed outside of the tissue, secured to a skin surface of the subject, and (iv) the implant is movable within the tissue by moving the proximal portion of the longitudinal member. The longitudinal member is decouplable from the implant from outside of the subject. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: An implant that includes an electrode is advanced to a nerve of a subject using a tube. The tube and the implant are arranged at a nonzero angle with respect to a skin surface of the subject, and the implant is passed distally from an opening of the tube, in a vicinity of a portion of the nerve. A longitudinal axis of the implant is realigned to become generally parallel with the skin surface, by proximally withdrawing the tube from the subject. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: An excitation unit is configured to induce action potentials by applying an excitatory current to a nerve. A blocking unit is configured to block the induced action potentials from propagating along the nerve by applying a blocking current to the nerve. A sensor unit is configured to detect the induced action potentials in the nerve, and to responsively provide a sensor signal that conveys information about the detected induced action potentials. Circuitry is configured (i) to drive the excitation unit to apply the excitatory current, (ii) to drive the blocking unit to apply the blocking current, (iii) while driving the blocking unit to apply the blocking current, to drive the sensor unit to detect the induced action potentials and provide the sensor signal, (iv) to receive the sensor signal, and (v) in response to the sensor signal, to alter a parameter of the blocking current.

Abstract: An excitation unit is configured to induce action potentials by applying an excitatory current to a nerve. A blocking unit is configured to block the induced action potentials from propagating along the nerve by applying a blocking current to the nerve. A sensor unit is configured to detect the induced action potentials in the nerve, and to responsively provide a sensor signal that conveys information about the detected induced action potentials. Circuitry is configured (i) to drive the excitation unit to apply the excitatory current, (ii) to drive the blocking unit to apply the blocking current, (iii) while driving the blocking unit to apply the blocking current, to drive the sensor unit to detect the induced action potentials and provide the sensor signal, (iv) to receive the sensor signal, and (v) in response to the sensor signal, to alter a parameter of the blocking current.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for facilitating percutaneous delivery of an implant to a target site of a body of a subject. The apparatus includes a delivery tool that includes a needle that defines a lumen through which the implant passes. The needle has a proximal end and a distal end, and defines a triple-grind bevel at the distal end. The triple-grind bevel defines a primary grind and two side-grinds. The side-grinds do not extend to meet each other to define a point at a distal-most part of the needle. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A method is described for percutaneously delivering an implant through a region of a body of a subject, the region including a fascia and non-fascia tissue. A hollow needle of a delivery tool is advanced distally through the fascia, while the delivery tool is in a first state in which the implant is entirely housed within the needle. The delivery tool is switched to a second state in which a proximal portion of the implant is housed within the needle and a distal portion of the implant is exposed from a distal end of the needle. While the delivery tool is in the second state the hollow needle is advanced distally through non-fascia tissue. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: An electrostimulator implant comprises (i) an implant body, the implant being injectable into tissue of a subject along a longitudinal axis of the implant body, (ii) first and second electrodes, disposed on respective first and second portions of the implant body; (iii) circuitry, disposed inside the implant body, and configured to drive the electrodes to apply current to the tissue; and (iv) a mesh. The mesh is configured to serve as an anchor of the implant, is disposed over a third portion of the implant body that is longitudinally between the first and second portions of the implant body, and has a first end and a second end. Each of the ends is fixedly attached to respective first and second sites of the implant body, the respective sites being longitudinally between the first and second electrodes.

Abstract: Apparatus includes an implant and an introducer. The implant includes an injectable housing, an electrode disposed on an outer surface of the housing, and circuitry. The circuitry is configured to alternate between a first mode in which the circuitry drives the electrode to apply a first electrical current having a frequency of 1-100 Hz, and a second mode in which the implant applies a second electrical current having a frequency of 1-10 kHz. The introducer includes a tube that defines a lumen and is percutaneously-advanceable into tissue of the subject, the lumen being dimensioned to at least temporarily house the implant. The introducer is configured to deploy the implant from a distal end of the lumen by moving the implant and the distal end of the lumen relative to each other. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: An electrostimulator implant includes an implant body, and at least two electrodes disposed on the implant body. The implant is percutaneously injectable into tissue of a subject with a distal portion of a flexible longitudinal member coupled to the implant. The apparatus is configured to be left, for at least 1 day after injection of the implant into the tissue, in a state in which (i) the implant is disposed within the tissue, (ii) the distal portion of the longitudinal member remains coupled to the implant within the tissue, (iii) a proximal portion of the longitudinal member is disposed outside of the tissue, secured to a skin surface of the subject, and (iv) the implant is movable within the tissue by moving the proximal portion of the longitudinal member. The longitudinal member is decouplable from the implant from outside of the subject. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Percutaneously advanced, distally into tissue of a subject, are (i) an implant, including an electrode and an anchor, and (ii) a tool. The tool includes an implant-storage member that houses the implant, and shaped to define a distal opening, and (b) a delivery manipulator, configured to facilitate bidirectional movement of the implant through the distal opening. Subsequently, the anchor and the electrode are exposed from the implant-storage member by withdrawing the implant-storage member proximally with respect to the implant. While the anchor and the electrode remain exposed from the implant-storage member, the implant is repositioned within the tissue by moving the implant, the implant-storage member, and the delivery manipulator with respect to the tissue. Subsequently, the tool is decoupled from the implant, and the tool is removed from the subject. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A method is described for percutaneously delivering an implant through a region of a body of a subject, the region including a fascia and non-fascia tissue. A hollow needle of a delivery tool is advanced distally through the fascia, while the delivery tool is in a first state in which the implant is entirely housed within the needle. The delivery tool is switched to a second state in which a proximal portion of the implant is housed within the needle and a distal portion of the implant is exposed from a distal end of the needle. While the delivery tool is in the second state the hollow needle is advanced distally through non-fascia tissue. Other embodiments are also described.