Abstract: A drug delivery device includes an ingestible pill including an enteric coating that covers a patch which defines therein a chamber, the patch being constructed to allow entry of liquid into the chamber. The patch includes at least one raised pouch that protrudes outwardly from the patch and which is in fluid communication with the chamber. The at least one raised pouch includes at least one drug-delivery needle. A gas-generating substance is disposed in the chamber, The gas-generating substance is configured to release gas after the liquid has entered the chamber, the gas being flowable into the at least one raised pouch.

Abstract: A drug delivery device includes an ingestible pill including an enteric coating that covers a patch which defines therein a chamber, the patch being constructed to allow entry of liquid into the chamber. The patch includes at least one raised pouch that protrudes outwardly from the patch and which is in fluid communication with the chamber. The at least one raised pouch includes at least one drug-delivery needle. A gas-generating substance is disposed in the chamber. The gas-generating substance is configured to release gas after the liquid has entered the chamber, the gas being flowable into the at least one raised pouch.

Abstract: A method is provided that includes inserting an inflow cannula of a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) of a LVAD system into a left chamber of a heart of a patient transeptally via a right atrium and a superior vena cava (SVC). An outflow cannula of the LVAD is coupled to a left subclavian artery or a left axillary artery. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A method for assembling a liner in a tube includes placing a liner in a tube, and heating a portion of the liner, called a heated portion, with a local heat source. The heated portion is not more than a third of a total length of the liner. The heated portion is expanded radially outwards so that the heated portion abuts against an inner wall of the tube. The local heat source is repeatedly advanced longitudinally along a desired length of the liner to expand the heated portion radially outwards so that the heated portion abuts against the inner wall of the tube for the desired length.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide an auto-inflatable patch assembly for drug delivery within a lumen, having: a pliable and inflatable patch having water and gas-impermeable walls, which define an internal chamber and an array of penetrating needles disposed on a surface thereof; one or more auxiliary gas-generating reaction chambers distinguished from and fluidly connected to the inflatable patch, said reaction chamber defined by pliable reaction chamber walls that house a water-sensitive gas-generating formulation; said reaction chamber walls having at least a portion being a water-permeable outer surface, wherein the patch assembly is configured such that each gas-generating formulation or a set thereof, is retained within its respective auxiliary gas-generating reaction chamber during inflation.

Abstract: An annuloplasty implant is implanted along a valve annulus of a heart of a subject using a driver that includes a flexible shaft and a deployment element at a distal end of the shaft by, for each of the anchors in turn, beginning with the distal anchor: (1) using the driver to move the anchor out of a corresponding anchor-storage area of a tool; (2) advancing the anchor distally through a tube of the tool, with the shaft of the driver extending past the anchor-storage area; (3) anchoring the anchor to tissue of the heart; (4) disengaging the driver from the anchor; and (5) retracting the driver proximally beyond the corresponding anchor-storage area and, at a successively-proximal anchor-storage area, engaging the anchor with the successive anchor. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A ventricular assist device (VAD) for use with a heart includes a housing, an upper membrane pump including a pumping chamber coupled to one-way upper inlet and outlet valves, a lower membrane pump including a pumping chamber coupled to one-way lower inlet and outlet valves, and an actuator that causes the upper membrane pump and the lower membrane pump to alternately draw blood into and pump blood out of their respective pumping chambers, and a control module in operative communication with the actuator, wherein the actuator operates with a pumping frequency which is greater than a pulse frequency of the heart.

Abstract: A steering tool includes an internal tube disposed inside an external tube. The internal and external tubes are arranged for longitudinal axial movement relative to one another. A distal end of the internal tube is fixedly joined to a distal end of the external tube. A tube manipulator can cause relative axial movement and distal bending of the internal and external tubes. A locking mechanism can switch between a locked position in which the internal and external tubes are locked at a particular longitudinal axial position relative to one another, and an unlocked position in which there is uninhibited free movement of the internal and external tubes relative to one another. The locking mechanism also includes an intermediate locked position in which there is partially inhibited movement of the internal and external tubes relative to one another.

Abstract: An implantable LVAD is provided that includes a pump shaped so as to define a pump chamber. The pump includes a tubular linear motor, which includes a magnetic piston, which includes a reciprocating one-way valve configured to allow downstream blood flow and inhibit upstream blood flow; and a stator, which is configured to magnetically drive the magnetic piston with reciprocating motion, so as to pump blood downstream during downstream motion of the magnetic piston while the reciprocating one-way valve is closed. The pump further includes a spring, which is arranged to store energy during upstream motion of the magnetic piston and release the stored energy during the downstream motion of the magnetic piston. Control circuitry is configured to activate the tubular linear motor to provide pulsatile flow synchronized with cardiac cycles. Other configurations are also described.

Abstract: A cartridge for positioning within a pharmaceutical delivery device is described. The cartridge has a housing with a light pipe section which acts as a light pipe having an input location, and a light diffusing section optically coupled to the light pipe. The light diffusing section extends beyond a plane defined by the housing.

Abstract: An implantable LVAD system includes an implantable LVAD including an outflow cannula, which is couplable in fluid communication with a circulatory system of the patient at a first site; and an inflow cannula, which is couplable in fluid communication with the circulatory system at a second site upstream of the first site. The LVAD further includes a continuous-flow pump includes a first inlet in fluid communication with the inflow cannula, and a first outlet. The LVAD still further includes a pulsatile-flow pump includes a second inlet in fluid communication with the first outlet of the continuous-flow pump, and a second outlet in fluid communication with the outflow cannula. Control circuitry is configured to activate the continuous-flow pump to provide flow without synchronization with cardiac cycles of a heart of the patient, and activate the pulsatile-flow pump to provide pulsatile flow synchronized with the cardiac cycles. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A steering tool includes an internal tube disposed inside an external tube. The internal and external tubes are arranged for longitudinal axial movement relative to one another. A distal end of the internal tube is fixedly joined to a distal end of the external tube. At least one of the internal and external tubes is slotted near the distal end thereof, and the longitudinal axial movement causes bending of the distal ends of the tubes.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for repairing a cardiac valve, the apparatus including a catheter sized for delivery through vasculature of a subject and an elongated and flexible annuloplasty structure having an annuloplasty structure axis. The annuloplasty structure is sized and configured for delivery to a heart of the subject through the catheter substantially along a catheter axis of the catheter while the annuloplasty structure axis is substantially parallel to the catheter axis. The apparatus also includes a plurality of anchors configured for delivery to a region of cardiac tissue from a proximal end of the catheter toward a distal end of the catheter and substantially along the annuloplasty structure axis and the catheter axis while at least a portion of the annuloplasty structure is within a delivery passage of the catheter. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: An implantable prosthetic device for repairing a native valve includes a first clip, a second clip, a first cord, and a second cord. The first clip has a first arm and a second arm and is moveable between an open position and a closed position. The second clip has a third arm and a fourth arm and is moveable between an open position and a closed position. The first cord is operatively coupled to the first clip for moving the first clip between the open and closed position. The second cord is operatively coupled to the second clip for moving the second clip between the open and closed position. The device is configured to clamp a first leaflet of the native mitral valve between the first arm and the second arm and to clamp a second leaflet of the native mitral valve between the third arm and the fourth arm.

Abstract: An implant structure, comprises a body portion, a first adjusting mechanism, and a second adjusting mechanism. The body portion is configured to be secured within a heart of a patient. The first adjusting mechanism is coupled to a first portion of the body portion, and comprises a first ring that surrounds the first portion and is moveable with respect to the body portion. The second adjusting mechanism is coupled to a second portion of the body portion, and comprises a second ring that surrounds the second portion and is moveable with respect to the body portion. A first elongate tool is configured to remodel tissue of the heart by actuating the first adjusting mechanism. A second elongate tool is configured to remodel tissue of the heart by actuating the second adjusting mechanism.

Abstract: A drug delivery needle includes a body portion from which extends a penetration end that includes at least two sharp distal tips, the sharp distal tips being separated from each other by an arcuate trough that includes a cutting edge at least at a middle portion of the arcuate trough. At least the two sharp tips are made of a drug or include a drug therein or are coated with a drug. The drug is biodegradable.

Abstract: An add-on for a self-injector is described. The add-on includes an adaptor having at a rigid and a bent fluid path. The adaptor is sized and fitted to sterilely couple the bent fluid path to a tip of a fluid reservoir. The add-on also includes a fastener sized and fitted to couple a body of the fluid reservoir to the self-injector. The internal diameter of the fastener is adjustable. The adaptor and the fastener couple to the self-injector to at least one of a plurality of reservoirs having different sizes and tip types. The self-injector can include a support plate with a plurality of attachment points. The fastener can be sized and fitted to couple to the body of the fluid reservoir and to at least one of the attachment points. A retention cantilever can releasably couple the at least one fastener to the support plate.

Abstract: A ventricular assist device (VAD) for use with a heart includes a housing, an upper membrane pump including a pumping chamber coupled to one-way upper inlet and outlet valves, a lower membrane pump including a pumping chamber coupled to one-way lower inlet and outlet valves, and an actuator that causes the upper membrane pump and the lower membrane pump to alternately draw blood into and pump blood out of their respective pumping chambers, and a control module in operative communication with the actuator, wherein the actuator operates with a pumping frequency which is greater than a pulse frequency of the heart.

Abstract: A ventricular assist device (VAD) for use with a heart includes a housing, an upper membrane pump including a pumping chamber coupled to one-way upper inlet and outlet valves, a lower membrane pump including a pumping chamber coupled to one-way lower inlet and outlet valves, and an actuator that causes the upper membrane pump and the lower membrane pump to alternately draw blood into and pump blood out of their respective pumping chambers, and a control module in operative communication with the actuator, wherein the actuator operates with a pumping frequency which is greater than a pulse frequency of the heart.