Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described including placing, into a subject's body, a blood-pump tube, with an impeller disposed within the blood-pump tube. At least one blood-pressure-measurement element extends to at least an outer surface of the blood-pump tube, such that the distal end of the blood-pressure-measurement element is in direct fluid communication with a bloodstream of the subject outside the blood-pump tube at a location that is proximal to blood-inlet opening(s) defined by the blood-pump tube. Blood is pumped through the blood-pump tube, using the impeller. Pressure of the bloodstream of the subject outside the blood-pump tube is measured by measuring blood pressure at the distal end of the left-ventricular blood-pressure-measurement element. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described including a ventricular assist device that includes a frame having struts that define a plurality of cells. In its non-radially-constrained configuration, the frame includes a generally cylindrical portion. A tube defines blood outlet openings, and a portion of the tube is disposed outside the frame and is coupled to the generally cylindrical portion of the frame, such that the portion of the tube conforms with a structure of struts of the frame. An inner lining is coupled to an inside of the generally cylindrical portion of the frame, such as to provide the generally cylindrical portion of the frame with a smooth inner surface. An impeller is disposed at least partially inside the generally cylindrical portion of the frame and is configured to pump blood through the tube and out of the one of more blood outlet openings. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: An intra-pulposus exposed electrode surface (280) is configured to be implanted in a nucleus pulposus (42) of an intervertebral disc (30), and a plurality of extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces (44) is configured to be implanted outside the nucleus pulposus (42), in electrical communication with the intervertebral disc (30). Control circuitry (50) separately controls at least two of the plurality of extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces (44), and to repeatedly alternatively assume: (a) a pressure-increasing mode of operation, in which fluid is electroosmotically driven into the nucleus pulposus (42) to increase pressure in the intervertebral disc (30), by applying a first mean voltage of less than 1.23 V between the exposed electrode surfaces (280, 44), and (b) an oxygen-generating mode of operation, in which oxygen is generated within the nucleus pulposus (42) by electrolysis, by applying a second mean voltage of at least 1.23 V between the exposed electrode surfaces (280, 44).

Abstract: Apparatus is provided, comprising an implant-storage member (24), configured to be percutaneously advanced to a tissue (10) of a subject, and shaped to define (a) a space (26) that is configured to house an implant (22) configured to apply a current to at least the tissue, (b) an opening (28) through which the implant is deliverable to the tissue, and (c) at least one window (30), configured such that, while the implant is disposed within the space and the implant-storage member is disposed in the tissue, the window facilitates flow of the current therethrough from the implant to the tissue; and a delivery manipulator (34), reversibly couplable to the implant, and configured to facilitate delivery of the implant through the opening. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described including a left-ventricular assist device configured to assist left-ventricular functioning of a subject. The left-ventricular assist device includes a frame, a rigid axial shaft extending from a proximal end of the frame to a distal end of the frame, and an impeller disposed on the rigid axial shaft. A motor is disposed outside the subject's body, and a flexible drive cable extends from outside the subject's body to the axial shaft. The drive cable imparts rotational motion from the motor to the rigid axial shaft, to thereby rotate the impeller. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described including a left-ventricular assist device that includes a self-expandable impeller and a pump-outlet tube. The impeller is configured to be deployed in a left ventricle of a subject and to pump blood from the subject's left ventricle to an aorta of the subject via the pump-outlet tube, for a period of more than two days. The impeller is configured to provide blood flow of more than 4.5 L/min, when pumping against a pressure gradient of 50 mmHg. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described including a left-ventricular assist device. A pump pumps blood from the subject's left ventricle to the subject's aorta, via a tube. A distal-tip element is disposed distally to the pump and defines a straight proximal portion that defines a longitudinal axis, and a curved distal portion that is shaped such as to curve in a first direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of the straight proximal portion before passing through an inflection point and curving in a second direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of the straight proximal portion, such that the curved distal portion defines a bulge on one side of the longitudinal axis of the straight proximal portion. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described including a blood pump configured to be placed inside a subject's body. The blood pump includes an impeller, a frame disposed around the impeller, a distal-tip portion disposed distally with respect to the frame, and a valve disposed within the distal-tip portion. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described including advancing a guide wire into a left ventricle of a subject and guiding a pump head of a left-ventricular assist device to the subject's left ventricle over the guidewire. The pump head is disposed in a radially-constrained configuration within a delivery catheter during the guiding. When the pump head is disposed within the subject's left ventricle, the pump-head is released from within the delivery catheter, thereby causing an impeller of the pump head to automatically assume a non-radially-constrained configuration by the impeller self-expanding. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described including deploying a pump head of a left-ventricular assist device in a subject's left ventricle. The pump head includes an axial shaft, and a radially-expandable impeller coupled to the axial shaft. A proximal radial bearing is disposed around the axial shaft proximally to the impeller, and a distal radial bearing is disposed around the axial shaft distally to the impeller. The interface between the axial shaft and the distal radial bearing is purged, by pumping purging fluid into a purging-fluid lumen defined by the left-ventricular assist device. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described including a blood pump configured to be placed inside a subject's body. An impeller includes proximal and distal bushings and an axial shaft configured to pass through the proximal and distal bushings. A first one of the proximal and distal bushings is axially-fixed to the axial shaft, and a second one of the proximal and distal bushings is not axially-fixed to the axial shaft. The impeller defines a radially-constrained configuration in which the impeller is introduced into the subject's body and a non-radially-constrained configuration in which the impeller is configured to pump blood within the subject's body. The impeller changes from its radially-constrained configuration to its non-radially constrained configuration by the second bushing sliding over the axial shaft. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described including a blood pump configured to be placed inside a body of subject. The blood pump includes an impeller that defines a lumen therethrough, and an axial shaft that passes through the lumen. The impeller is configured to assume a radially-constrained configuration by becoming axially elongated. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described including a blood pump that includes an impeller configured to pump blood through a subject's body, and a frame disposed around the impeller. In a radially-non-constrained configuration of the frame, the frame defines a proximal conical portion and a cylindrical portion disposed distally to the proximal conical portion. The blood pump is configured such that such that, during at least some of the operation of the blood pump, at least a portion of the impeller is disposed within the proximal conical portion of the frame. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described including a left-ventricular assist device that includes a frame that includes proximal and distal frame portions that include struts that define cells, and a central frame portion that includes helical struts. An impeller is disposed inside the frame, the impeller being configured to rotate such as to pump blood from a left ventricle of a subject to an aorta of the subject. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described including a ventricular assist device that includes a tube configured to traverse a subject's aortic valve. The tube defines a generally-cylindrical central portion, and a proximal conical portion that narrows from a proximal end of the central portion to a proximal end of the tube. The tube defines one or more blood inlet openings in a vicinity of a distal end of the tube, and one or more blood outlet openings that extend axially from the central portion of the tube at least partially into the proximal conical portion of the tube. A blood pump pumps blood into the tube from the subject's left ventricle through the one or more blood inlet openings, and from the tube into the aorta through the one or more blood outlet openings. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for performing robotic microsurgery on a patient's body. Two or more tools (21) each include a mount-engagement portion (32) that defines a front recess (82) and a rear recess (84). A tool mount (34) defines a tool-receiving socket (86) securely holds the one or more tools. The tool-mount (34) includes a rear set of rollers (94) that are configured to be placed within the rear recess (84) and a front set of rollers (92) that are configured to be placed within the front recess (82). A tool-securement cover that is hingedly coupled to the tool-receiving socket (86) is configured to secure the tool (21) within the tool-receiving socket (86). A motor (93) rolls the tool (21) with respect to the tool mount (34), while the tool (21) is securely held within the tool mount (34). Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described including a blood pump that includes an impeller configured to pump blood through a subject's body, and a frame disposed around the impeller. In a radially-non-constrained configuration of the frame, the frame defines a proximal conical portion and a cylindrical portion disposed distally to the proximal conical portion. During operation of the blood pump, the impeller moves with respect to the frame, and a range of movement of the impeller is such that at least a first portion of the impeller is disposed within the proximal conical portion of the frame during at least some of the operation of the blood pump, and at least a second portion of the impeller is disposed within the cylindrical portion of the frame during at least some of the operation of the blood pump. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described including a left ventricular assist device that includes an axial flow impeller configured to be disposed within a subject's left ventricle and to pump blood axially from the subject's left ventricle to the subject's aorta. A frame is disposed around the impeller, the frame being shaped such that, in a non-radially-constrained configuration of the frame, the frame defines a central cylindrical portion, and a distal conical portion. The frame is at least partially covered with one or more tube portions, the tube portions defining one or more blood-inlet openings that are configured to allow blood to flow from the subject's left ventricle into the tube portions, wherein at least some of the one or more blood-inlet openings are at least partially disposed over the distal conical portion of the frame. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described including a left ventricular assist device that includes an impeller configured to be placed inside a left ventricle of a subject and to pump blood from the left ventricle to an aorta of the subject, by rotating. A frame is disposed around the impeller. A tube is configured to traverse an aortic valve of the subject, such that a proximal portion of the tube is disposed within the subject's aorta and a distal portion of the tube is disposed within the subject's left ventricle. The distal portion of the tube extends to a distal end of the frame and defines one or more lateral blood inlet openings that are configured to allow blood to flow from the subject's left ventricle into the tube. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described including a blood pump catheter that includes an axial shaft, and an impeller disposed on the axial shaft. A motor drives the impeller to pump blood, by rotating the impeller. A drive cable extends from the motor to the axial shaft, the drive cable being configured to impart rotational motion from the motor to the impeller by rotating. A distal tip portion is disposed at a distal end of the blood pump catheter. The drive cable, the axial shaft, and the distal tip portion define a continuous lumen therethrough from outside the subject's body to the distal end of the blood pump catheter. The continuous lumen facilitates insertion of the blood pump catheter into the subject's body over a guidewire, and, subsequently, provides a channel through which the purging fluid flows. Other applications are also described.