Abstract: Docking devices can be configured to be positioned at a native valve of a human heart to provide structural support for docking a prosthetic valve. The docking devices generally have coiled structures that define an inner space in which the prosthetic valve can be held. Some docking devices can be adjusted from a first wider configuration which facilitates easier advancement of the docking device around the valve anatomy, to a second narrower configuration after the docking device has been delivered to more securely hold the prosthetic valve. The docking device may also be better held in position at the native valve after adjustment to the narrower configuration. Some docking devices include a stabilization segment or double coil configuration, where a main coil region is configured to securely hold a prosthetic valve, while a stabilization coil region is configured to more stably hold the docking device at the native valve.

Abstract: A method is provided including shaping a thermoplastic material on a dental arch of a subject and utilizing the shaped thermoplastic material to facilitate inserting of a steerable implantable neural stimulator into a greater palatine foramen of the subject. The method further includes advancing the stimulator through a greater palatine canal of the subject to a sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) of the subject. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus is described, the apparatus including an oral surgical guide. The oral surgical guide includes an arch portion configured to be placed on a dental arch of a subject; and an extension portion extending from the arch portion, and shaped to define a guide hole. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: A delivery apparatus for a prosthetic implant can include an elongate first shaft, a first suture guide coupled to the first shaft, an elongate second shaft, and a second suture guide coupled to the second shaft. The first shaft can extend coaxially through the second shaft and the second suture guide, the first suture guide can be disposed distal to the second suture guide, and the first suture guide and the second suture guide can be configured to be axially movable relative to each other.

Abstract: An anchoring system and related methods are provided for treatment of dilated hearts and of functional valve regurgitation, the system comprising one or more self-expandable or manually expandable anchors and associated devices for fixating a valve splint within the heart. For example, a spade-shaped assembly may be configured to be deployed in a right ventricle of the heart and to stabilize a puncturing instrument to puncture the septum. Various puncturing instruments may also be part of the anchoring system, including one or more of a flexible needle having a multiplicity of slits disposed along the length of the needle, a trocar catheter with a retractable head, and a catheter needle having a blunt introducer to protect nearby tissue within the heart during advancing a guidewire. A cutter catheter and puncture location catheter may also be part of the system and be used during treatment.

Abstract: A device is in various embodiments configured to repair a native heart valve or to secure a prosthetic heart valve within a native valve of the heart of a patient. Embodiments of the device include at least an upper coil and a lower coil, where the device is configured to assume an axially expanded state where the entire upper coil is positioned on a first side of the lower coil relative to the central axis, and an axially compressed state where at least a portion of the upper coil is positioned on a second side of at least a portion of the lower coil opposite to the first side relative to the central axis.

Abstract: A method for treating a subject is provided, including applying electrical stimulation to a site of the subject selected from the group consisting of: a sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG), a greater palatine nerve, a lesser palatine nerve, a sphenopalatine nerve, a communicating branch between a maxillary nerve and an SPG, an otic ganglion, an afferent fiber going into the otic ganglion, an efferent fiber going out of the otic ganglion, an infraorbital nerve, a vidian nerve, a greater superficial petrosal nerve, and a lesser deep petrosal nerve. The stimulation is configured to excite nervous tissue of the site at a strength sufficient to induce at least one neuroprotective occurrence selected from the group consisting of: an increase in cerebral blood flow (CBF) of the subject, and a release of one or more neuroprotective substances, and insufficient to induce a significant increase in permeability of a blood-brain barrier (BBB) of the subject.

Abstract: A method for treating a subject is provided, including applying electrical stimulation to a site of the subject selected from the group consisting of: a sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG), a greater palatine nerve, a lesser palatine nerve, a sphenopalatine nerve, a communicating branch between a maxillary nerve and an SPG, an otic ganglion, an afferent fiber going into the otic ganglion, an efferent fiber going out of the otic ganglion, an infraorbital nerve, a vidian nerve, a greater superficial petrosal nerve, and a lesser deep petrosal nerve. The stimulation is configured to excite nervous tissue of the site at a strength sufficient to induce at least one neuroprotective occurrence selected from the group consisting of: an increase in cerebral blood flow (CBF) of the subject, and a release of one or more neuroprotective substances, and insufficient to induce a significant increase in permeability of a blood-brain barrier (BBB) of the subject.

Abstract: Apparatus is described, the apparatus including an oral surgical guide. The oral surgical guide includes an arch portion configured to be placed on a dental arch of a subject; and an extension portion extending from the arch portion, and shaped to define a guide hole. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided that includes one or more electrodes, configured to be applied to a sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG), a greater palatine nerve, a lesser palatine nerve, a sphenopalatine nerve, a communicating branch between a maxillary nerve and an SPG, an otic ganglion, an afferent fiber going into the otic ganglion, an efferent fiber going out of the otic ganglion, an infraorbital nerve, a vidian nerve, a greater superficial petrosal nerve, or a lesser deep petrosal nerve; and a control unit, configured to drive the electrodes to apply electrical stimulation to the site, and configure the stimulation to excite nervous tissue of the site at a strength sufficient to induce at least one neuroprotective occurrence selected from the group consisting of: an increase in cerebral blood flow (CBF), and a release of one or more neuroprotective substances, and insufficient to induce a significant increase in permeability of a blood-brain barrier (BBB).

Abstract: A method is provided that includes advancing at least one electrode through mucosa of an oral cavity, along a path that does not enter a greater palatine canal, to within 10 mm of a sphenopalatine fossa. The at least one electrode is left implanted within 10 mm of the sphenopalatine fossa. Optionally, the at least one electrode is advanced into the sphenopalatine fossa via a lateral aspect of the fossa, and left implanted in the sphenopalatine fossa. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A method for treatment is provided, including identifying that a subject has suffered from an adverse cerebrovascular event, excluding Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Responsively to the identifying, beginning at least nine hours after the event, electrical stimulation is applied to a site of the subject selected from the group consisting of: a sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG), a greater palatine nerve, a lesser palatine nerve, a sphenopalatine nerve, a communicating branch between a maxillary nerve and an SPG, an otic ganglion, an afferent fiber going into the otic ganglion, an efferent fiber going out of the otic ganglion, an infraorbital nerve, a vidian nerve, a greater superficial petrosal nerve, and a lesser deep petrosal nerve. The stimulation is configured to excite nervous tissue of the site at a strength sufficient to induce at least an increase in cerebral blood flow (CBF) and/or a release of one or more neuroprotective substances.

Abstract: A method for treatment is provided, including identifying that a subject has suffered from an adverse cerebrovascular event, excluding Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Responsively to the identifying, beginning at least nine hours after the event, electrical stimulation is applied to a site of the subject selected from the group consisting of: a sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG), a greater palatine nerve, a lesser palatine nerve, a sphenopalatine nerve, a communicating branch between a maxillary nerve and an SPG, an otic ganglion, an afferent fiber going into the otic ganglion, an efferent fiber going out of the otic ganglion, an infraorbital nerve, a vidian nerve, a greater superficial petrosal nerve, and a lesser deep petrosal nerve.

Abstract: Apparatus for treatment is provided, including one or more electrodes, configured to be applied to a site of a subject, and adverse cerebrovascular condition treatment functionality. The functionality comprises a control unit configured to drive the one or more electrodes to apply electrical stimulation to the site during a plurality of stimulation periods which includes at least first and last stimulation periods, set an inter-period interval between initiation of the first stimulation period and initiation of the last stimulation period to be at least 24 hours, and configure the stimulation during the first and last stimulation periods to induce at least one neuroprotective occurrence selected from the group consisting of: an increase in cerebral blood flow (CBF) of the subject, and a release of one or more neuroprotective substances.

Abstract: A method is provided that includes identifying that a subject is at risk of suffering from vascular dementia (VaD). Responsively to the identifying, a risk of development of the VaD is reduced by applying electrical stimulation to a site of the subject selected from the group consisting of: a sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG), a greater palatine nerve, a lesser palatine nerve, a sphenopalatine nerve, a communicating branch between a maxillary nerve and an SPG, an otic ganglion, an afferent fiber going into the otic ganglion, an efferent fiber going out of the otic ganglion, an infraorbital nerve, a vidian nerve, a greater superficial petrosal nerve, and a lesser deep petrosal nerve; and configuring the stimulation to induce at least one neuroprotective occurrence selected from the group consisting of: an increase in cerebral blood flow of the subject, and a release of one or more neuroprotective substances. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A method of examining a patient is provided. The method includes aligning a patient table with a first examination axis, and rotating the patient table around a substantially fixed pivot axis from the first examination axis to a second examination axis using a predetermined angular velocity profile.

Abstract: A method is provided, including identifying an electrical stimulation protocol as being suitable for augmenting genesis of one or more cell populations in at least one brain region of the subject. The cell genesis is augmented by applying the identified stimulation protocol to an SPG, a greater palatine nerve, a branch of the greater palatine nerve, a lesser palatine nerve, a sphenopalatine nerve, a communicating branch between a maxillary nerve and an SPG, an otic ganglion, an afferent fiber going into the otic ganglion, an efferent fiber going out of the otic ganglion, an infraorbital nerve, a vidian nerve, a greater superficial petrosal nerve, a lesser deep petrosal nerve, a maxillary nerve, a branch of the maxillary nerve, a nasopalatine nerve, a peripheral site that provides direct or indirect afferent innervation to the SPG, or a peripheral site that is directly or indirectly efferently innervated by the SPG.

Abstract: Apparatus for application to a subject is provided, including an elongated support element having a length of between 1.8 cm and 4 cm, and having proximal and distal ends; and one or more electrodes fixed to the support element in a vicinity of the distal end thereof, and adapted to apply an electrical current to a sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) of the subject. The apparatus further includes a receiver, fixed to the support element, and electrically coupled to the electrodes; and a wireless transmitter, adapted to be placed in an oral cavity of the subject, and to be wirelessly coupled to the receiver. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A method is provided that includes identifying that a subject is at risk of suffering from vascular dementia (VaD). Responsively to the identifying, a risk of development of the VaD is reduced by applying electrical stimulation to a site of the subject selected from the group consisting of: a sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG), a greater palatine nerve, a lesser palatine nerve, a sphenopalatine nerve, a communicating branch between a maxillary nerve and an SPG, an otic ganglion, an afferent fiber going into the otic ganglion, an efferent fiber going out of the otic ganglion, an infraorbital nerve, a vidian nerve, a greater superficial petrosal nerve, and a lesser deep petrosal nerve; and configuring the stimulation to induce at least one neuroprotective occurrence selected from the group consisting of: an increase in cerebral blood flow of the subject, and a release of one or more neuroprotective substances. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing polarization within an imaging device are provided and include a method of controlling an image detecting device. The method includes applying heat to the image detecting device having at least one ohmic contact and controlling the applied heat to adjust a temperature level of the image detecting device.