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 described for use with a burglar alarm that includes a detector configured to detect activity and to generate an activity-detection signal in response thereto. A sensor monitors a resting surface and generates a signal in response thereto. A control unit identifies a correspondence between (a) the activity-detection signal, and (b) the signal that is generated by the sensor. The control unit inhibits the burglar alarm from being triggered, in response to the correspondence. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described including apparatus for monitoring a female subject that includes a sensor, configured to monitor the subject without requiring compliance of the subject, and to generate a sensor signal in response to the monitoring. A computer processor is configured to receive the sensor signal, analyze the sensor signal, in response to the analyzing, identify whether the subject is in a pregnant state or a non-pregnant state, and generate an output in response thereto. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for monitoring a female subject. A sensor is configured to monitor the subject without contacting the subject or clothes the subject is wearing, and without viewing the subject or clothes the subject is wearing, and to generate a sensor signal in response to the monitoring. A computer processor is configured to receive the sensor signal, and to analyze the sensor signal. In response to the analyzing, the computer processor is configured to automatically identify a menstrual state of the subject, and to generate an output in response thereto. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus comprising an ultrasound ablation system (10), which comprises a reflection-facilitation element (12), configured to be placed at an extramyocardial site of a subject, and to provide an extramyocardial reflective region; and an ultra-sound tool (20), which comprises at least one ultrasound transducer (40) configured to be positioned within a heart chamber of the subject. The ultrasound transducer (40) 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 an ultrasound ablation system, which includes a reflection-facilitation element, configured to be placed at an extramyocardial site of a subject, and to provide an extramyocardial reflective region. The system further includes an ultrasound tool, which comprises at least one ultrasound transducer configured to be positioned within a heart chamber of the subject, and 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 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: A method comprising providing a reflective region at a far side of tissue of a subject is provided. The method includes assessing whether the reflective region is in a desired location, by means of acoustic sensing; and in response to assessing that the reflective region is in the desired location, activating an ultrasound transducer to ablate the tissue by applying ultrasound energy to a near side of the tissue, such that at least a portion of the transmitted energy is reflected by the reflective region onto the tissue of the subject. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus (10) is provided, including a skin-application portion (30), configured to move across a skin surface (75) of a subject. At least one acoustic element (80) is coupled to the skin-application portion and configured to be placed in acoustic contact with the skin, and to apply ultrasound energy to the skin. Additionally, at least one hair removal element (20) is coupled to the skin-application portion and removes hair from the skin of the subject. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided, which includes at least one ultrasound transducer. The ultrasound transducer is configured to be positioned within a lumen of a subject and to ablate tissue surrounding a wall of the lumen without ablating the wall of the lumen, by focusing ultrasound energy on a focal zone that is outside of the wall of the lumen. A transluminal delivery tool is configured to position the ultrasound transducer in the lumen, and a control unit is configured to drive the ultrasound transducer. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided that includes an ultrasound ablation system, which includes a reflection-facilitation element, configured to be placed at an extramyocardial site of a subject, and to provide an extramyocardial reflective region. The system further includes an ultrasound tool, which comprises at least one ultrasound transducer configured to be positioned within a heart chamber of the subject, and 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 (20) is provided comprising a skin-application portion (40), configured to move across skin of a subject. At least one acoustic element (50) is coupled to the skin-application portion (40) and configured to be placed in acoustic contact with the skin, and configured to apply ultrasound energy to the skin. The apparatus (20) additionally comprises circuitry configured to generate a current responsive to motion of the skin-application portion (40); and a control unit (10), which is configured to receive the current, to determine, responsive thereto, whether the skin-application portion (40) is moving with respect to the skin, and to drive the acoustic element (50) to apply the ultrasound energy to the skin responsive to determining that the skin-application portion (40) is moving with respect to the skin. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus comprising an ultrasound ablation system (10), which comprises a reflection-facilitation element (12), configured to be placed at an extramyocardial site of a subject, and to provide an extramyocardial reflective region; and an ultra-sound tool (20), which comprises at least one ultrasound transducer (40) configured to be positioned within a heart chamber of the subject. The ultrasound transducer (40) 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: A method is provided comprising placing an energy source coupled to a first support structure, at a first location on skin of an eyelid and placing a second structure at a second location on the skin of the eyelid, the second location being farther from the eye than is the first location. A portion of skin of the eyelid and underlying tissue is held between the first and second structures and treatment energy is transmitted from the energy source, from the first location away from the eye, through the tissue, toward the second location on the skin of the eyelid, while withholding transmission of treatment energy from the second location on the skin of the eyelid, toward the eye, through the portion of tissue, toward the first location on the skin of the eyelid. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided that includes an ultrasound ablation system, which includes a reflection-facilitation element, configured to be placed at an extramyocardial site of a subject, and to provide an extramyocardial reflective region. The system further includes an ultrasound tool, which comprises at least one ultrasound transducer configured to be positioned within a heart chamber of the subject, and 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: A method comprising providing a reflective region at a far side of tissue of a subject is provided. The method includes assessing whether the reflective region is in a desired location, by means of acoustic sensing; and in response to assessing that the reflective region is in the desired location, activating an ultrasound transducer to ablate the tissue by applying ultrasound energy to a near side of the tissue, such that at least a portion of the transmitted energy is reflected by the reflective region onto the tissue of the subject. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided, including first and second support structures for placement on skin of a subject. At least one of the first and second structures is moveable with respect to the other so as to draw a portion of the skin and underlying tissue of the subject between respective lateral surfaces of the support structures. At least one ultrasound transducer is moveably coupled to the first support structure along an axis of the structure that is not parallel to the lateral surface of the structure. The ultrasound transducer is configured to transmit toward the portion of skin and underlying tissue one or more forms of acoustic radiation energy, including treatment energy. At least one acoustic element is coupled to the second support structure. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: A method for treating a scar on a skin surface of a subject is provided. A subject is identified as having a skin surface with scar tissue. In response to identifying the subject as having the scar tissue, a housing comprising at least one acoustic transducer is placed on the skin surface with the scar tissue and the acoustic transducer is activated to apply high intensity focused ultrasound energy to a portion of the scar tissue. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided, including a housing, adapted for placement on tissue of a subject, and a plurality of transducers, disposed at respective locations with respect to the housing, and configured to transmit energy towards each other, in a plane defined by the housing.

Abstract: A housing (50) is placed on skin of a subject, and draws at least a portion of the skin within at least a part of the housing. The housing includes at least first and second support structures (34), placed in contact with a surface of skin surrounding the portion of the skin, the first support structure having a first concave surface (153) and the second support structure having a second concave surface (153) that faces the first concave surface. The apparatus includes one or more first ultrasound transducers (160) coupled to the first support structure and one or more second ultrasound transducers coupled to the second support structure. The apparatus also includes a control unit which drives the first and second ultrasound transducers to induce an implosion wave in a target region of the skin. Other embodiments are also described.