Abstract: A prosthetic cardiac valve includes a frame and plurality of prosthetic leaflets coupled to the frame so as to allow blood flow in one direction. An antenna is mechanically coupled to the frame, and includes a magnetic core and one or more coils wound about the magnetic core. At at least one location along a length of the magnetic core, a planar space bound by an outer perimeter of the magnetic core, in a plane perpendicular to a central longitudinal axis of the frame, has (a) a shorter dimension, which is measured along a ray that radiates radially outward from the central longitudinal axis and intersects a centroid defined by the planar space, and (b) a longer dimension, which is measured perpendicular to the shorter dimension in the plane, and is at least 150% of the shorter dimension. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A prosthetic aortic valve is provided including a frame including interconnected stent struts arranged so as to define interconnected stent cells. A plurality of prosthetic leaflets are coupled to the frame so as to allow blood flow in a downstream direction and inhibit blood flow in an upstream direction when the prosthetic aortic valve is in an expanded deployment configuration. Circuitry is mechanically coupled to the frame. An electrode is mechanically coupled to the frame. A printed circuit board (PCB) is shaped so as to define an elongate portion. An electrical lead electrically couples the electrode to the circuitry, and is integral with the elongate portion of the PCB. The elongate portion of the PCB is mechanically coupled to some of the interconnected stent struts of the frame. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Disclosed are vascular occluder, kit and method of use thereof. The vascular occluder includes an occluder body extending longitudinally between an occluder body distal end and an occluder body proximal end. The occluder body is elastically compressible longitudinally from a preliminary deployed configuration to a compressed deployed configuration. Vascular occluder includes a tension member configured to tether the occluder body proximal end to the occluder body distal end and to tighten therebetween when the occluder body is in the compressed deployed configuration. The occluder body includes a proximal tubular body segment and a distal tubular body segment, and when in the compressed deployed configuration, the proximal tubular body segment is located inside of, and/or provides structural support to, the distal tubular body segment.

Abstract: Vascular occluder and methods for occluding a passage are provided. The vascular occluder comprises an elongated occluder body with an occluding section, and a tension member connected with one end thereof to occluder body. Occluding section forms a tubular bellows-like shaped structure comprising a plurality of bellows sections when in an elastically relaxed configuration, is elastically stretchable longitudinally from the elastically relaxed configuration to a delivery configuration, and elastically compressible longitudinally from the elastically relaxed configuration, by way of applying tension to the tension member, to a fixed deployed configuration.

Abstract: A prosthetic aortic valve is provided including a frame including interconnected stent struts arranged so as to define interconnected stent cells. Upstream ones of the stent cells are located in an upstream half of the frame and define respective upstream peaks. An electrode is disposed at or near an upstream peak of one of the upstream stent cells. First and Second upstream stent struts of the one of the upstream stent cells are joined at the upstream peak. Coupling material is shaped so as to define a first strip that is mechanically coupled to the first upstream stent strut, a second strip that is mechanically coupled to the second upstream stent strut, and a junction, which couples together the first and the second strips, such that the first and the second strips together couple the electrode to the frame at or near the upstream peak. Other embodiments are also described.

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.

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.

Abstract: Apparatus for ablating tissue of a subject is provided. The apparatus includes a reflection-facilitation element (20) having an inflatable element (22), which is placed at a first side of the tissue of the subject; and an introducer (24), coupled to the inflatable element which delivers a fluid to the first side of the tissue, 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. The apparatus also includes an ultrasound tool (90), having at least one ultrasound transducer (92), which is placed at a second side of the tissue, and applies ultrasound energy such that at least a portion of the applied energy is reflected by the fluid. Other applications are also described.