Rainbow Medical Ltd.

Maxillent Ltd.

Comverse, Inc.

Discure Technologies Ltd.

Gideon Fostick

Yossi Gross

Ilan Uchitel

Hadar Better

Alex Tendler

Zev Sohn

Adi Alphandary

Evgeni Venislavski

Gideon Beery

Michael Lis

Benjie Bloch

A method for treating a herniated intervertebral disc is provided, the method including implanting an electrode mount crossing an annulus fibrosus of the herniated intervertebral disc of a subject, such that the electrode mount holds at least one intra-pulposus exposed electrode surface in place in a nucleus pulposus of the herniated intervertebral disc. Control circuitry is activated to treat disc herniation by creating an electric potential difference between the at least one intra-pulposus exposed electrode surface and one or more extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces implanted outside the nucleus pulposus in electrical communication with the herniated intervertebral disc. Other embodiments are also described.

Disc therapy

A method is provided for treating an intervertebral disc of a subject, the method including implanting at least one intra-pulposus exposed electrode surface in a nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc, and implanting one or more extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces outside the nucleus pulposus, in electrical communication with the intervertebral disc. Control circuitry, while electrically coupled to the at least one intra-pulposus exposed electrode surface and the one or more extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces, is activated to drive fluid and introduce nutritional substances into the intervertebral disc, by applying a voltage between the at least one intra-pulposus exposed electrode surface and the one or more extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces. Other embodiments are also described.

Apparatus is provided for treating an intervertebral disc of a subject, the apparatus including: at least one intra-pulposus exposed electrode surface, which is configured to be implanted in a nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc; and one or more extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces, which are configured to be implanted outside the nucleus pulposus, in electrical communication with the intervertebral disc. Control circuitry is electrically coupled to the at least one intra-pulposus exposed electrode surface and one or more extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces. The control circuitry is configured to drive fluid and introduce nutritional substances into the intervertebral disc, by applying a voltage between the at least one intra-pulposus exposed electrode surface and the one or more extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces. Other embodiments are also described.

A method is provided that includes implanting a first electrode in a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)-filled space of a brain of a subject identified as at risk of or suffering from Alzheimer's disease. One or more second electrodes are implanted superficial to brain parenchyma of the subject, such that the brain parenchyma is spatially disposed between a ventricular system of the brain and the one or more second electrodes. Control circuitry is activated to drive the first and the one or more second electrodes to clear amyloid beta and/or tau protein from the brain parenchyma into the ventricular system by applying current between the first electrode and the one or more second electrodes using an average voltage of less than 1.2 V. Other embodiments are also described.

Electrical substance clearance from the brain

Apparatus is provided that includes one or more intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces, and a support structure along which the one or more intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces are disposed. The support structure is configured to be implanted within a nucleus pulposus of an intervertebral disc of a subject, and to be shaped as a partial ring or a complete ring after implantation. The apparatus further includes one or more extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces, which are configured to be implanted outside the nucleus pulposus, in electrical communication with the disc. Control circuitry is provided, which is configured to: configure the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces to be cathodes, and the one or more extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces to be one or more anodes, and drive the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces and the one or more extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces to electroosmotically drive fluid into the nucleus pulposus. Other embodiments are also described.

A method is provided that includes implanting (a) a parenchymal electrode in or in contact with an outer surface of brain parenchyma of a subject identified as at risk of or suffering from a disease, and (b) a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) electrode in a CSF-filled space of a brain of the subject, the CSF-filled space selected from the group consisting of: a ventricular system and a subarachnoid space. A midplane treatment electrode is disposed in or over a superior sagittal sinus. Control circuitry is activated to drive the parenchymal electrode and the CSF electrode to drive a substance from the brain parenchyma into the CSF-filled space of the brain, and apply a treatment current between the CSF electrode and the midplane treatment electrode to drive the substance from the CSF-filled space of the brain to the superior sagittal sinus. Other embodiments are also described.

Apparatus is provided that includes a parenchymal electrode, configured to be implanted in brain parenchyma of a subject identified as at risk of or suffering from a synucleinopathy; and a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) electrode, configured to be implanted in a CSF-filled space of a brain of the subject, the CSF-filled space selected from the group consisting of: a ventricular system and a subarachnoid space. Control circuitry is configured to drive the parenchymal and the CSF electrodes to clear alpha-synuclein (aSyn) from the brain parenchyma into the CSF-filled space of the brain. Other embodiments are also described.

Electrical treatment of Parkinson's disease

Apparatus is provided including a surgical tool configured to be advanced distally within a body of a subject. The surgical tool is shaped to define a side-facing suction port at a distal portion of the surgical tool to facilitate drawing tissue through the suction port and into the surgical tool, and includes a slidable transparent shutter configured to be disposed over the suction port, and to be slidably removed from the suction port. A needle is configured to be slidably disposed within the surgical tool and configured to puncture the tissue while the tissue is in the surgical tool. Other applications are also described.

Pericardial needle mechanism

A method is provided that includes positioning electrodes in or in contact with the head of a subject identified as in need of enhanced microglial cell activation. Control circuitry is activated to drive the electrodes to apply an electrical current to the brain of the subject, and to configure the electrical current to enhance microglial cell activation for taking up a substance from brain parenchyma. Other embodiments are also described.

Electrical microglial cell activation

Apparatus () for treating an intervertebral disc () of a subject is provided. The apparatus () includes at least three intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces (), which are configured to be implanted within a nucleus pulposus () of the disc (), at different respective locations; and one or more extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces (), which are configured to be implanted outside the nucleus pulposus (), in electrical communication with the disc (). Control circuitry () is configured to (a) configure the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces () to be cathodes, and the one or more extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces () to be one or more anodes, and (b) drive the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces () and the one or more extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces () to electroosmotically drive fluid into the nucleus pulposus () to increase pressure in the disc ().

Apparatus is provided that includes a parenchymal electrode, configured to be implanted in brain parenchyma of a subject identified as at risk of or suffering from Alzheimer's disease; and a ventricular electrode, configured to be implanted in a ventricular system of a brain of the subject. Control circuitry is configured to drive the parenchymal and the ventricular electrodes to clear a substance from the brain parenchyma into the ventricular system. Other embodiments are also described.

Electrical substance clearance from the brain for treatment of alzheimer's disease

A method of treating an intervertebral disc of a subject is provided, comprising implanting, within a nucleus pulposus of the disc, at least three intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces at different respective locations; and implanting one or more extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces outside the nucleus pulposus, in electrical communication with the disc. Control circuitry is activated to configure the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces to be cathodes, and the one or more extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces to be one or more anodes, and to drive the intra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces and the one or more extra-pulposus exposed electrode surfaces to electroosmotically drive fluid into the nucleus pulposus to increase pressure in the disc. Other embodiments are also described.

An osteotome is shaped so as to define (a) a lumen through the osteotome, a distal end of the lumen opening through a distal opening disposed within 10 mm of a distal end of the osteotome, and a proximal end of the lumen opening through a proximal opening disposed at least 5 mm proximal to the distal opening, (b) a lateral external surface, at least a portion of which is shaped so as to define a screw thread that (i) has a distal thread end that is disposed within 10 mm of the distal end of the osteotome, and (ii) comprises one or more raised helical ribs going around the osteotome, and (c) one or more longitudinal drainage slots, which extend along at least respective longitudinal portions of the osteotome having respective longitudinal lengths of at least 5 mm, measured parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the osteotome.

Bone graft injection device

Apparatus is provided that includes a surgical tool for use with solid particles and a physiological liquid solution. The surgical tool includes (a) a shaft unit, which is shaped so as to define a delivery lumen, and a distal opening, which is disposed within 10 mm of a distal end of the shaft unit, in fluid communication with the delivery lumen; (b) a composition source, which is coupled in fluid communication with the delivery lumen, and which is configured to provide a solid-liquid composition of the solid particles and the physiological liquid solution; and (c) a pump, which is configured to pump the solid-liquid composition through the distal opening via the delivery lumen.

A method is provided that includes injecting, from a first side of a bone, through (a) exactly one bore that passes through the bone from the first side to a second side of the bone, and (b) into a cavity adjacent to the second side of the bone, a solid-liquid composition of solid particles and a physiological liquid solution. The physiological liquid solution is drained from the cavity and through the bore while passage of the solid particles of the solid-liquid composition is inhibited, such that the solid particles accumulate in the cavity.

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Giv′at-Shmuel, Israel

Gideon Fostick