Abstract: Apparatus is provided for treating a condition such as obesity. The apparatus includes a set of one or more electrodes, which are adapted to be applied to one or more respective sites in a vicinity of a body of a stomach of a patient. A control unit is adapted to drive the electrode set to apply to the body of the stomach a signal, configured such that application thereof increases a level of contraction of muscle tissue of the body of the stomach, and decreases a cross-sectional area of a portion of the body of the stomach for a substantially continuous period greater than about 3 seconds.

Abstract: A cardiac contractility modulating (CCM) device includes an anti-arrhythmic therapy unit for detecting a cardiac arrhythmia in a heart of a patient based on processing electrical signals related to cardiac activity sensed at the heart, and for delivering anti-arrhythmic therapy to the heart. The device includes a cardiac contractility modulating unit capable of delivering cardiac contractility modulating signals to the heart for modulating the contractility of a portion of the heart. The device may provide to the anti-arrhythmic therapy unit control signals associated with the delivery of the CCM signals to the heart. The control signals may be used to prevent interference of the CCM signals with the detecting of the cardiac arrhythmia. The device includes a power source. The device may be an implantable device or a non-implantable device. The device may also include a pacing unit.

Abstract: Apparatus for drug administration is provided, including an ingestible capsule, which includes a drug, stored by the capsule, and an environmentally-sensitive mechanism, adapted to change a state thereof responsively to a disposition of the capsule within a gastrointestinal (GI) tract of a subject. The capsule further includes first and second electrodes, and a control component, adapted to facilitate passage of the drug, in response to a change of state of the environmentally-sensitive mechanism, through an epithelial layer of the GI tract by driving the first and second electrodes to apply a series of pulses at a current of less than about 5 mA, at a frequency of between about 12 Hz and about 24 Hz, and with a pulse duration of between about 0.5 milliseconds and about 3 milliseconds.

Abstract: Apparatus for drug administration is provided, including an ingestible capsule, which includes a drug, stored by the capsule, and an environmentally-sensitive mechanism, adapted to change a state thereof responsively to a disposition of the capsule within a gastrointestinal (GI) tract of a subject. The capsule further includes first and second electrodes, and a control component, adapted to facilitate passage of the drug, in response to a change of state of the environmentally-sensitive mechanism, through an epithelial layer of the GI tract by driving the first and second electrodes to apply a “low intensity time-varying” (LITV) signal.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for treating a condition such as obesity. The apparatus includes a set of one or more electrodes, which are adapted to be applied to one or more respective sites in a vicinity of a body of a stomach of a patient. A control unit is adapted to drive the electrode set to apply to the body of the stomach a signal, configured such that application thereof increases a level of contraction of muscle tissue of the body of the stomach, and decreases a cross-sectional area of a portion of the body of the stomach for a substantially continuous period greater than about 3 seconds.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for treating a condition such as obesity. The apparatus includes a set of one or more electrodes, which are adapted to be applied to one or more respective sites in a vicinity of a body of a stomach of a patient. A control unit is adapted to drive the electrode set to apply to the body of the stomach a signal, configured such that application thereof increases a level of contraction of muscle tissue of the body of the stomach, and decreases a cross-sectional area of a portion of the body of the stomach for a substantially continuous period greater than about 3 seconds.

Abstract: A method for setting the parameters of an alert time window in an excitable tissue control device operative under a plurality of different cardiac conditions of a heart of a patient. The method includes providing said excitable tissue control device with a set of data including a plurality of sets of alert time window parameters. Each set of window parameters is uniquely associated with a different set of values of a plurality of cardiac condition defining parameters identifying one of the different cardiac conditions. Each set of window parameters includes at least a set of timing parameters usable for obtaining a beginning time point and an ending time point of the alert window. The sets of window parameters are obtained by processing data collected within a data collection session from a plurality of cardiac beats of the same patient under the different cardiac conditions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for modifying contractility of heart tissue. The method includes applying electrodes (34, 35, 38) to one or more sites in the heart (20) and making a determination at which of the sites, if any, to pace the heart. A parameter of an excitable tissue control (ETC) signal (50, 60) to be applied to the heart is set responsive to the determination, and the ETC signal is applied to at least one of the electrodes responsive to the parameter, so as to enhance contractility of the heart.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for treating a condition such as obesity. The apparatus includes a set of one or more electrodes, which are adapted to be applied to one or more respective sites in a vicinity of a body of a stomach of a patient. A control unit is adapted to drive the electrode set to apply to the body of the stomach a signal, configured such that application thereof increases a level of contraction of muscle tissue of the body of the stomach, and decreases a cross-sectional area of a portion of the body of the stomach for a substantially continuous period greater than about 3 seconds.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for obtaining from a patient's heart data useful for on-line setting of the parameters of a detection time window in an excitable tissue control device. The method includes applying electrodes to a first cardiac site and a second cardiac site of a patient and electrically connecting the electrodes to a data collecting device. The device is then operated under a plurality of different cardiac conditions to obtain a plurality of different histogram data sets. Each histogram data set represents a cumulative time distribution histogram of cardiac depolarization events detected at the second cardiac site in a plurality of cardiac beats. Each histogram data set is defined by a plurality of histogram parameters having values indicative of the cardiac conditions common to the plurality of cardiac beats used to obtain the histogram data set.

Abstract: A method and devices for timing the delivery of non-excitatory signals for modifying myocardial contractility of a portion of the heart are disclosed. The method includes the steps of applying electrodes to a plurality of cardiac sites, sensing electrical activity in a first cardiac site through a first electrode for detecting a first electrical depolarization event within a beat cycle, sensing electrical activity in a second cardiac site through a second electrode for detecting a second electrical depolarization event within the beat cycle, and applying a non-excitatory signal to the heart at or near at least the second cardiac site through at least one of the electrodes in response to detecting the second electrical depolarization event within an alert window period. The alert window period starts at a first delay from the time of detection of the first electrical depolarization event and has a first duration.

Abstract: A method and device for controlling the delivery of cardiac contractility modulating signals to the heart are disclosed. The method includes applying electrodes to a heart, sensing electrical activity in a first cardiac chamber and in at least a second cardiac chamber to detect events within a cardiac beat cycle and applying a cardiac contractility modulating signal to the heart at or about the first cardiac chamber in response to detecting an event within an alert window time interval. The applying of the cardiac contractility modulating signal is inhibited in response to detecting one or more inhibitory events occurring within specific time intervals defined within a current beat cycle. The method also includes the ignoring of events associated with expected electrical artifact signals if they occur within the duration of specified time intervals, to increase the therapy efficacy.

Abstract: A method and devices for timing the delivery of non-excitatory signals for modifying myocardial contractility of a portion of the heart are disclosed. The method includes the steps of applying electrodes to a plurality of cardiac sites, sensing electrical activity in a first cardiac site through a first electrode for detecting a first electrical depolarization event within a beat cycle, sensing electrical activity in a second cardiac site through a second electrode for detecting a second electrical depolarization event within the beat cycle, and applying a non-excitatory signal to the heart at or near at least the second cardiac site through at least one of the electrodes in response to detecting the second electrical depolarization event within an alert window period. The alert window period starts at a first delay from the time of detection of the first electrical depolarization event and has a first duration.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for obtaining from a patient's heart data useful for on-line setting of the parameters of a detection time window in an excitable tissue control device. The method includes applying electrodes to a first cardiac site and a second cardiac site of a patient and electrically connecting the electrodes to a data collecting device. The device is then operated under a plurality of different cardiac conditions to obtain a plurality of different histogram data sets. Each histogram data set represents a cumulative time distribution histogram of cardiac depolarization events detected at the second cardiac site in a plurality of cardiac beats. Each histogram data set is defined by a plurality of histogram parameters having values indicative of the cardiac conditions common to the plurality of cardiac beats used to obtain the histogram data set.

Abstract: A method and devices for timing the delivery of non-excitatory signals for modifying myocardial contractility of a portion of the heart. The method includes the steps of applying electrodes to a plurality of cardiac sites, sensing electrical activity in a first cardiac site through a first electrode for detecting a first electrical depolarization event within a beat cycle, sensing electrical activity in a second cardiac site through a second electrode for detecting a second electrical depolarization event within the beat cycle, and applying a non-excitatory signal to the heart at or near at least the second cardiac site through at least one of the electrodes in response to detecting the second electrical depolarization event within an alert window period. The alert window period starts at a first delay from the time of detection of the first electrical depolarization event and has a first duration.

Abstract: A method for setting the parameters of an alert time window in an excitable tissue control device operative under a plurality of different cardiac conditions of a heart of a patient. The method includes providing said excitable tissue control device with a set of data including a plurality of sets of alert time window parameters. Each set of window parameters is uniquely associated with a different set of values of a plurality of cardiac condition defining parameters identifying one of the different cardiac conditions. Each set of window parameters includes at least a set of timing parameters usable for obtaining a beginning time point and an ending time point of the alert window. The sets of window parameters are obtained by processing data collected within a data collection session from a plurality of cardiac beats of the same patient under the different cardiac conditions.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for obtaining from a patient's heart data useful for on-line setting of the parameters of a detection time window in an excitable tissue control device. The method includes applying electrodes to a first cardiac site and a second cardiac site of a patient and electrically connecting the electrodes to a data collecting device. The device is then operated under a plurality of different cardiac conditions to obtain a plurality of different histogram data sets. Each histogram data set represents a cumulative time distribution histogram of cardiac depolarization events detected at the second cardiac site in a plurality of cardiac beats. Each histogram data set is defined by a plurality of histogram parameters having values indicative of the cardiac conditions common to the plurality of cardiac beats used to obtain the histogram data set.