Bluewind Medical Ltd.

Bar Eytan

Gur Oron

Yossi Gross

Eran Benjamin

Anton Plotkin

Zev Sohn

Nir Armony

Jimy Pesin

Nir Armoni

Karin Aharonson-Raz

Guri Oron

Danny Neeman

Rami Lore

Shlomi Ronen

An apparatus includes an implant that includes circuitry and an elongate housing having a first half and a second half. A paresthesia-inducing electrode is disposed on the first half, and a blocking electrode is disposed on the second half. The circuitry has a first mode in which the circuitry simultaneously drives the paresthesia-inducing electrode to apply a paresthesia-inducing current having a frequency of 2-400 Hz, and the blocking electrode to apply a blocking current having a frequency of 1-20 kHz, and a second mode in which the circuitry drives the blocking electrode to apply the blocking current, but does not drive the paresthesia-inducing electrode to apply the paresthesia-inducing current. The implant is injectable into a subject along a longitudinal axis of the implant. Other embodiments are also described.

Optimization of application of current

An implant that includes an electrode is advanced to a nerve of a subject using a tube. The tube and the implant are arranged at a nonzero angle with respect to a skin surface of the subject, and the implant is passed distally from an opening of the tube, in a vicinity of a portion of the nerve. A longitudinal axis of the implant is realigned to become generally parallel with the skin surface, by proximally withdrawing the tube from the subject. Other embodiments are also described.

Delivery of implantable neurostimulators

Apparatus is provided for facilitating percutaneous delivery of an implant to a target site of a body of a subject. The apparatus includes a delivery tool that includes a needle that defines a lumen through which the implant passes. The needle has a proximal end and a distal end, and defines a triple-grind bevel at the distal end. The triple-grind bevel defines a primary grind and two side-grinds. The side-grinds do not extend to meet each other to define a point at a distal-most part of the needle. Other embodiments are also described.

Implant-delivery tool

An electrostimulator implant includes an implant body, and at least two electrodes disposed on the implant body. The implant is percutaneously injectable into tissue of a subject with a distal portion of a flexible longitudinal member coupled to the implant. The apparatus is configured to be left, for at least 1 day after injection of the implant into the tissue, in a state in which (i) the implant is disposed within the tissue, (ii) the distal portion of the longitudinal member remains coupled to the implant within the tissue, (iii) a proximal portion of the longitudinal member is disposed outside of the tissue, secured to a skin surface of the subject, and (iv) the implant is movable within the tissue by moving the proximal portion of the longitudinal member. The longitudinal member is decouplable from the implant from outside of the subject. Other embodiments are also described.

An excitation unit is configured to induce action potentials by applying an excitatory current to a nerve. A blocking unit is configured to block the induced action potentials from propagating along the nerve by applying a blocking current to the nerve. A sensor unit is configured to detect the induced action potentials in the nerve, and to responsively provide a sensor signal that conveys information about the detected induced action potentials. Circuitry is configured (i) to drive the excitation unit to apply the excitatory current, (ii) to drive the blocking unit to apply the blocking current, (iii) while driving the blocking unit to apply the blocking current, to drive the sensor unit to detect the induced action potentials and provide the sensor signal, (iv) to receive the sensor signal, and (v) in response to the sensor signal, to alter a parameter of the blocking current.

A method is described for percutaneously delivering an implant through a region of a body of a subject, the region including a fascia and non-fascia tissue. A hollow needle of a delivery tool is advanced distally through the fascia, while the delivery tool is in a first state in which the implant is entirely housed within the needle. The delivery tool is switched to a second state in which a proximal portion of the implant is housed within the needle and a distal portion of the implant is exposed from a distal end of the needle. While the delivery tool is in the second state the hollow needle is advanced distally through non-fascia tissue. Other embodiments are also described.

Implant and delivery tool therefor

An electrostimulator implant comprises (i) an implant body, the implant being injectable into tissue of a subject along a longitudinal axis of the implant body, (ii) first and second electrodes, disposed on respective first and second portions of the implant body; (iii) circuitry, disposed inside the implant body, and configured to drive the electrodes to apply current to the tissue; and (iv) a mesh. The mesh is configured to serve as an anchor of the implant, is disposed over a third portion of the implant body that is longitudinally between the first and second portions of the implant body, and has a first end and a second end. Each of the ends is fixedly attached to respective first and second sites of the implant body, the respective sites being longitudinally between the first and second electrodes.

Inhibition of implant migration

Apparatus includes an implant and an introducer. The implant includes an injectable housing, an electrode disposed on an outer surface of the housing, and circuitry. The circuitry is configured to alternate between a first mode in which the circuitry drives the electrode to apply a first electrical current having a frequency of 1-100 Hz, and a second mode in which the implant applies a second electrical current having a frequency of 1-10 kHz. The introducer includes a tube that defines a lumen and is percutaneously-advanceable into tissue of the subject, the lumen being dimensioned to at least temporarily house the implant. The introducer is configured to deploy the implant from a distal end of the lumen by moving the implant and the distal end of the lumen relative to each other. Other embodiments are also described.

Implantable electrostimulator for improving blood flow

Percutaneously advanced, distally into tissue of a subject, are (i) an implant, including an electrode and an anchor, and (ii) a tool. The tool includes an implant-storage member that houses the implant, and shaped to define a distal opening, and (b) a delivery manipulator, configured to facilitate bidirectional movement of the implant through the distal opening. Subsequently, the anchor and the electrode are exposed from the implant-storage member by withdrawing the implant-storage member proximally with respect to the implant. While the anchor and the electrode remain exposed from the implant-storage member, the implant is repositioned within the tissue by moving the implant, the implant-storage member, and the delivery manipulator with respect to the tissue. Subsequently, the tool is decoupled from the implant, and the tool is removed from the subject. Other embodiments are also described.

An implant comprises: (a) an implant body that comprises: (i) at least a first longitudinal portion of the implant body that defines a given outer diameter; and (ii) a recessed longitudinal portion of the implant body that is radially recessed with respect to the first longitudinal portion of the implant body, such that an outer diameter of the recessed longitudinal portion is less than the outer diameter of the first longitudinal portion; and (b) a cuff coupled to the implant body around the recessed longitudinal portion of the implant body such that an outer diameter of the cuff does not exceed the outer diameter of the first longitudinal portion. The cuff defines a plurality of holes that are configured to facilitate anchoring of the implant body with respect to the subject's tissue, by facilitating tissue growth into the holes. Other embodiments are also described.

Apparatus is provided, comprising: (a) an implantable excitation unit, configured to induce action potentials in a nerve of a subject by applying an excitatory current; (b) an implantable blocking unit, configured to block the induced action potentials from propagating along the nerve by applying a blocking current; and (c) an extracorporeal controller, comprising circuitry configured: (i) to wirelessly drive the excitation unit to apply the excitatory current, (ii) in a first mode, to wirelessly drive the blocking unit to apply the blocking current while not driving the excitation unit to apply the excitatory current, (iii) in a second mode, to wirelessly drive the blocking unit to apply the blocking current while driving the excitation unit to apply the excitatory current, and (iv) to wirelessly alter a parameter of the blocking current, based on sensing performed while the extracorporeal controller is in the second mode.

Apparatus including an implant is provided, the implant including: a rod-shaped housing, having a distal half and a proximal half, and configured to be injected distally into tissue of a subject; a cathode on the distal half of the housing; an anchor configured to protrude from the proximal half of the housing, no anchor being configured to protrude from the distal half of the housing; an anode; and circuitry disposed within the housing, configured to drive a current between the cathode and the anode. Other embodiments are also described.

Anchors and implant devices

Apparatus is provided, comprising an implant-storage member (), configured to be percutaneously advanced to a tissue () of a subject, and shaped to define (a) a space () that is configured to house an implant () configured to apply a current to at least the tissue, (b) an opening () through which the implant is deliverable to the tissue, and (c) at least one window (), 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 (), reversibly couplable to the implant, and configured to facilitate delivery of the implant through the opening. Other embodiments are also described.

An electrostimulator implant is percutaneously advanceable into tissue of a limb of a subject. The implant comprises (i) an intracorporeal sensor, configured to detect a factor indicative of local blood supply in the tissue of the limb; (ii) an electrode disposed at an outer surface of the implant; (iii) an antenna, configured to wirelessly receive power; and (iv) circuitry, powered by the received power, and configured to drive the electrode to apply a bloodflow-increasing current to the tissue at least in part responsively to the detected factor. Other embodiments are also described.

An electrostimulator implant comprises (i) an implant body, the implant being injectable into tissue of a subject along a longitudinal axis of the implant body, (ii) first and second electrodes, disposed on respective first and second portions of the implant body; (iii) circuitry, disposed inside the implant body, and configured to drive the electrodes to apply current to the tissue; and (iv) a mesh, disposed over at least 50 percent of the implant body, and configured to serve as an anchor of the implant. Other embodiments are also described.

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Gedera, Israel

Bar Eytan