Abstract: A method of modifying the force of contraction of at least a portion of a heart chamber, including providing a subject having a heart, comprising at least a portion having an activation, and applying a non-excitatory electric field having a given duration, at a delay after the activation, to the portion, which causes the force of contraction to be increased by at least 5%.

Abstract: A catheter is disclosed, comprising an elongated body, having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein at the distal end of said catheter a cap is provided, attached to said distal end, said cap provided with passage adapted to receive a guide-wire slidingly passing through it. Another preferred embodiment of the present invention is a catheter having a distal and proximal ends wherein said catheter is provided with a cap at its distal end said cap provided with a loop attached to it adapted to receive a guide-wire to pass through said loop. Yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention is a catheter having a distal and proximal ends wherein said catheter is provided with external coating said coating at the distal end of the catheter provided with a cleavage and a perforation substantially opposite the cleavage so as to allow a guide-wire to be passed through the cleavage and be threaded through said perforation.

Abstract: A method of modifying the force of contraction of at least a portion of a heart chamber, including providing a subject having a heart, comprising at least a portion having an activation, and applying a non-excitatory electric field having a given duration, at a delay after the activation, to the portion, which causes the force of contraction to be increased by at least 5%.

Abstract: A method of modifying the force of contraction of at least a portion of a heart chamber, including providing a subject having a heart, comprising at least a portion having an activation, and applying a non-excitatory electric field having a given duration, at a delay after the activation, to the portion, which causes the force of contraction to be increased by at least 5%.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling activity of a heart of a living person during a medical procedure. Electrical signals are applied to the heart so as to induce a spontaneously-reversible cardioplegia thereof. The signals are preferably such that terminating application of the signals does not induce fibrillation. Most preferably, the signals have an amplitude that is below a level that would induce fibrillation upon termination thereof.

Abstract: This invention is an apparatus for modifying cardiac output of the heart of a subject, including one or more sensors which sense signals responsive to cardiac activity, and a stimulation probe including one or more stimulation electrodes which apply non-excitatory stimulation pulses to a cardiac muscle segment. Signal generation circuitry is coupled to the one or more sensors and the stimulation probe, which circuitry receives the signals from the one or more sensors and generates the non-excitatory stimulation pulses responsive to the signals.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for stimulating cardiac tissue. Pacing pulses are applied to the heart at multiple sites in at least two different chambers of the heart; and an Excitable Tissue Control (ETC) signal is applied in a vicinity of one or more of the pacing sites following application of the pacing pulse at the site.

Abstract: A removable lead for applying electrical signals to excitable tissue in a body of a subject, including at least one conductive wire and at least one electrode fixed to the wire. The electrode includes a conducting substrate having a given capacitance and a given resistance and a coating applied over the conducting substrate, such that the capacitance of the electrode with the coating is at least twice the capacitance of the substrate, and the resistance of the electrode with the coating is generally equal to the resistance of the substrate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a segment of excitable tissue, typically tissue of a heart, the segment having an intrinsic activity level. During a high phase, electrical energy of a given amplitude is applied to the segment. During a low phase, the amplitude of the electrical energy applied to the segment is reduced relative to that applied during the high phase, so that the segment's activity level increases during the low phase above the intrinsic activity level.

Abstract: A device for dragging and positioning of a member within a duct in a body comprising a rod, having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end of the rod is coupled to a loop, designed to be slidably mounted over a guidewire, and wherein said loop is provided with hooking means, onto which a member to be guide and positioned within a duct in a body is hooked, so that when advancing the rod from its distal end, the loop slides forward over the guidewire, and drags the member to the desired target location.

Abstract: An apparatus for the combined drug/electric-stimulation treatment of a cardiac muscle comprises circuitry (S) for creating a non-excitatory electric potential between at least two points (R1, R2) located in the vicinity of a muscle (H). A method for the combined drug/electric-stimulation treatment of a cardiac muscle, using the apparatus, involves controlling the start time, duration, and magnitude of the electric current flowing between said at least two points, to impart a desired change in cardiac muscle performance.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises circuitry for creating a non-excitor electric potential between at least two points located in the vicinity of a muscle. A method is provided which employs the apparatus for reducing the contraction force of a muscle.