Abstract: Apparatus is provided for repairing a valve of a heart of a patient which includes an annulus and at least first and second leaflets. The apparatus includes an annuloplasty structure, a plurality of tissue anchors, and a plurality of flexible longitudinal guide members removably coupled to the structure. Each of the guide members is configured to facilitate anchoring of the annuloplasty structure to the annulus of the patient by a respective one of the anchors. The guide members are configured to be advanced toward the annulus simultaneously with the annuloplasty structure. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided, including a tube (421) shaped to define a tube lumen at least one implant (100) reversibly coupled to the tube (421), and configured for implantation within a body of a patient. The apparatus also comprises two or more longitudinal guide members (470) disposed at least in part along a distal portion of the tube (421), the longitudinal guide members (470) having distal portions thereof configured to be reversibly coupled to the implant (100), and arranged such that application of a force to a first one of the longitudinal guide members (470) steers the distal portion of the tube (421) toward a first location along the implant (100), and application of a force to a second one of the longitudinal guide members (470) steers the distal portion of the tube (421) toward a second location along the implant (100). Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A method is provided, including distally advancing an implant through a urethra of a patient until the implant emerges in a bladder of the patient, and facilitating expanding of a pre-operative perimeter of a portion of the urethra to a post-operative perimeter of the portion of the urethra that is larger than the pre-operative perimeter by proximally retracting the implant and implanting the implant in prostate tissue surrounding the urethra. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for repairing a valve of a heart of a patient which includes an annulus and at least first and second leaflets. The apparatus includes an annuloplasty structure, a plurality of tissue anchors, and a plurality of flexible longitudinal guide members removably coupled to the structure. Each of the guide members is configured to facilitate anchoring of the annuloplasty structure to the annulus of the patient by a respective one of the anchors. The guide members are configured to be advanced toward the annulus simultaneously with the annuloplasty structure. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided, including an intraluminal tube having a proximal end and a distal end, the tube being shaped to provide a longitudinal lumen. A treatment element, having a proximal end and a distal end, is disposed within the lumen of the tube. A handle assembly is coupled to the proximal end of the tube. A user offset controller is coupled to the handle assembly, and is configured to set an offset of the distal end of the treatment element with respect to the distal end of the tube. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for repairing a valve of a patient, the valve including an annulus and at least first and second leaflets. The apparatus includes at least a first discrete segment and a second discrete segment of an annuloplasty structure, each segment being shaped to provide a respective lateral wall, each lateral wall being shaped to define at least one lumen of the respective segment. The apparatus further includes at least a first and a second control wire, each control wire configured for sliding advancement through both the first and second segments. The first control wire is configured to control a relative disposition of a first end of the first segment and a first end of the second segment. The second control wire is configured to control a relative disposition of a second end of the first segment and a second end of the second segment. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: The present invention provides a dual action linear-rotational resectoscope comprising: (a) a resection loop and loop shaft which are raised to high electrical tension for either resection or cauterisation; (b) an endoscope tube electrically insulated from the loop shaft; (c) an insulating sheath comprising an inner and outer sheath between which fluid is free to flow, surrounding both the loop shaft and the endoscope tube; (d) a handle by which an operator controls both linear and rotational motion of the resector-loop such that the operator performs a resection by using either rotational motion of the resector-loop, linear motion of the resector-loop or any combination of the two; and, (e) a dual-action actuating mechanism useful for manoeuvring the resector-loop adjacent to a body portion to be treated in a sequence of rotational and linear maneuvers; the maneuvers are selected from a group consisting of linear motion followed by rotational motion, rotational motion followed by linear motion, only rotation