Abstract: A method is provided, including identifying that a subject is at risk of suffering from atrial fibrillation (AF). Responsively to the identifying, a risk of an occurrence of an episode of the AF is reduced by applying an electrical current to a site of the subject selected from the group consisting of: a vagus nerve, a sinoatrial (SA) node fat pad, a pulmonary vein, a carotid artery, a carotid sinus, a coronary sinus, a vena cava vein, a jugular vein, an azygos vein, an innominate vein, and a subclavian vein, and configuring the current to stimulate autonomic nervous tissue in the site. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus for graphically representing a substantially periodic signal having substantially periodic segments, comprising a graphic transformer for converting the periodic segments into encodings respectively for arrangement in a first dimension and successively indexing the encodings to form a two-dimensional coded image, thereby to represent, within the image, dynamic changes of the periodic segments over the signal.

Abstract: A device for reducing noise in signals having successive substantially repetitive portions, comprising: an iterative averager operative to superimpose and average said substantially repetitive portions to produce a running average thereof, and an iteration ender comprising a noise analyzer for determining a noise level in said running average and ending operation of said iterative averager when said noise level reaches a predetermined level. Also, A method of obtaining an indication of ischemia in a patient using an ECG signal therefrom, the method comprising: extracting an ECG signal over a duration, extracting from said ECG signal a series of QRS complexes over said duration, extracting high frequency components of said QRS complexes, analyzing said high frequency components over said duration for at least one of a predetermined quality, and inferring from said predetermined quality an indication of ischemia.

Abstract: A device for reducing noise in signals having successive substantially repetitive portions, comprising: an iterative averager operative to superimpose and average said substantially repetitive portions to produce a running average thereof, and an iteration ender comprising a noise analyzer for determining a noise level in said running average and ending operation of said iterative averager when said noise level reaches a predetermined level. Also, a method of obtaining an indication of ischemia in a patient using an ECG signal therefrom, the method comprising: extracting an ECG signal over a duration, extracting from said ECG signal a series of QRS complexes over said duration, extracting high frequency components of said QRS complexes, analyzing said high frequency components over said duration for at least one of a predetermined quality, and inferring from said predetermined quality an indication of ischemia.

Abstract: Apparatus (20) for treating a subject (30) suffering from spontaneous atrial fibrillation includes an electrode device (22), adapted to be coupled to a site of the subject (30) selected from the list consisting of: a vagus nerve (24) of the subject (30), an epicardial fat pad of the subject (30), a pulmonary vein of the subject (30), a carotid artery of the subject (30), a carotid sinus of the subject (30), a vena cava vein of the subject (30), and an internal jugular vein of the subject (30), and a control unit (32), adapted to drive the electrode device (22) to apply an electrical current to the site, and to configure the current to maintain the spontaneous AF for at least about 24 hours, so as to modify blood flow within the atria and reduce risk of thromboembolic events.

Abstract: A treatment method is provided, including identifying a subject as one who is selected to undergo an interventional medical procedure, and, in response to the identifying, reducing a likelihood of a potential adverse effect of the procedure by applying an electrical current to a parasympathetic site of the subject selected from the group consisting of: a vagus nerve of the subject, an epicardial fat pad of the subject, a pulmonary vein of the subject, a carotid artery of the subject, a carotid sinus of the subject, a coronary sinus of the subject, a vena cava vein of the subject, a jugular vein of the subject, a right ventricle of the subject, a parasympathetic ganglion of the subject, and a parasympathetic nerve of the subject.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for applying current to a nerve, including a housing, that is adapted to be placed in a vicinity of the nerve. At least one electrode is fixed to the housing such that the at least one electrode does not come in direct physical contact with the nerve, and such that the electrode surrounds greater than 180 degrees of a circumference of the nerve after the placement of the housing. Two end insulating elements are fixed to the housing. The at least one electrode is between the end insulating elements. A characteristic closest end insulating element distance to a surface of the nerve is less than 0.5 mm.

Abstract: A method is provided including selecting a patient suffering from a condition, administering cells to the patient selected from the group consisting of: progenitor cells and genetically-modified cells, applying an electrical current to a site of the patient in a vicinity of nervous tissue, and configuring the current to stimulate the nervous tissue. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for applying current to a nerve, including a housing that is adapted to be placed in a vicinity of the nerve. First, second, and third electrodes are fixed to the housing at first, second, and third longitudinal sites of the housing, respectively. The first, second, and third electrodes do not come in direct physical contact with the nerve. The second site is between the first and third sites. The second electrode has an electrode surface axial length. The apparatus also includes first and second internal insulating elements, which are fixed to the housing between the first and second longitudinal sites, and between the second and third longitudinal sites, respectively. The first and second internal insulating elements are shaped so as to define, upon placement of the housing, a nerve axial distance between the first and second internal insulating elements that is less than the electrode surface axial length.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for treating a condition of a subject, including an electrode device, adapted to be coupled to an autonomic nerve of the subject, and a control unit. The control unit is adapted to drive the electrode device to apply to the nerve a stimulating current, which is capable of inducing action potentials in a therapeutic direction in a first set and a second set of nerve fibers of the nerve, and to drive the electrode device to apply to the nerve an inhibiting current, which is capable of inhibiting the induced action potentials traveling in the therapeutic direction in the second set of nerve fibers, the nerve fibers in the second set having generally larger diameters than the nerve fibers in the first set. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A dual electrode arrangement, is provided, wherein two, preferably unidirectional, electrode configurations flank a nerve junction from which a preselected nerve branch issues, proximally and distally to the junction, with respect to the brain. The arrangement is conducive to the following: generating efferent action-potential propagations, substantially restricted to the preselected nerve branch, inhibiting afferent action-potential propagations, from the preselected nerve branch, selectively generating action-potential propagations, in a subset of nerve fibers of a predetermined diameter range, substantially restricted to the preselected nerve branch, and selectively inhibiting action-potential propagations, in a subset of nerve fibers of a predetermined diameter range, substantially restricted to the preselected nerve branch.

Abstract: A method is provided for treating a subject, including applying a current to a site of the subject selected from the list consisting of: a vagus nerve of the subject, an epicardial fat pad of the subject, a pulmonary vein of the subject, a carotid artery of the subject, a carotid sinus of the subject, a vena cava vein of the subject, and an internal jugular vein of the subject.

Abstract: Apparatus for treating a subject suffering from spontaneous atrial fibrillation includes an electrode device, adapted to be coupled to a vagus nerve of the subject, and a control unit, adapted to drive the electrode device to apply an electrical current to the vagus nerve, and to configure the current to maintain the spontaneous AF for at least about 24 hours, so as to modify blood flow within the atria and reduce risk of thromboembolic events.

Abstract: Apparatus for graphically representing a substantially periodic signal having substantially periodic segments, comprising a graphic transformer for converting the periodic segments into encodings respectively for arrangement in a first dimension and successively indexing the encodings to form a two-dimensional coded image, thereby to represent, within the image, dynamic changes of the periodic segments over the signal.

Abstract: A device for reducing noise in signals having successive substantially repetitive portions, comprising: an iterative averager operative to superimpose and average said substantially repetitive portions to produce a running average thereof, and an iteration ender comprising a noise analyzer for determining a noise level in said running average and ending operation of said iterative averager when said noise level reaches a predetermined level. Also, a method of obtaining an indication of ischemia in a patient using an ECG signal therefrom, the method comprising: extracting an ECG signal over a duration, extracting from said ECG signal a series of QRS complexes over said duration, extracting high frequency components of said QRS complexes, analyzing said high frequency components over said duration for at least one of a predetermined quality, and inferring from said predetermined quality an indication of ischemia.