Implant and delivery tool therefor

Abstract

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.

1 .- 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A method for delivering an implant to a target site of a body of a subject, the method comprising:
 inserting the implant into the subject's tissue;   activating the implant to apply a current to the subject's tissue at a first site within the tissue at a first power level;   detecting a response of the subject to the application of the current to the first site at the first power level;   in response to detecting that the subject responded in a given manner to the application of the current to the first site at the first power level, iteratively applying current to the first site at iteratively lower power levels until detecting that, at a second power level, the subject no longer responds, in the given manner, to the application of current to the first site; and   subsequently:
 moving the implant to one or more further sites within the subject's tissue and applying current to the tissue, at the one or more further sites, at the second power level; 
   detecting a response of the subject to the application of current to the subject's tissue at the one or more further sites; and
 in response to detecting that the subject responds, in the given manner, to application of the current at the second power level at a given one of the one or more further sites, implanting the implant closer to the given site than to the first site. 
   
     
     
         25 .- 36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein:
 the method further comprises, prior to the step of inserting, making an incision in skin of the subject, and   the step of inserting comprises inserting the implant into the subject's tissue via the incision.   
     
     
         38 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein:
 detecting the response of the subject to the application of the current to the first site at the first power level comprises measuring a response of the subject to the application of the current to the first site at the first power level, and   subsequently detecting the response of the subject to the application of current to the subject's tissue at the one or more further sites comprises subsequently measuring the response of the subject to the application of current to the subject's tissue at the one or more further sites.   
     
     
         39 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein:
 the implant is configured to receive wireless power, and   applying the current to the tissue comprises, using the wirelessly received power, applying the current to the tissue.   
     
     
         40 . The method according to  claim 39 , wherein the step of activating comprises, using the wirelessly received power, activating the implant to apply the current to the subject's tissue at the first site within the tissue at the first power level. 
     
     
         41 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein:
 the implant further includes a cuff, the cuff wrapped around a longitudinal portion of the implant, and   the method further comprises, using the cuff, anchoring the implant to the tissue.   
     
     
         42 . The method according to  claim 41 , wherein the cuff comprises a resilient material. 
     
     
         43 . The method according to  claim 41 , wherein the cuff comprises an electrically insulating material. 
     
     
         44 . The method according to  claim 41 , wherein:
 the longitudinal portion is a recessed longitudinal portion of the implant.