A guide cap and a loading system for loading an implant into a delivery system are disclosed which are capable of simplifying operations required in interventional surgery using the implant. The guide cap has a lumen passing therethrough and includes: a conical section; a straight or conical tube in communication with a small open end of the conical section; and a flange, wherein a large open end of the conical section flares outward and thereby forms the flange. The loading system includes a guider and the guide cap. During the process of loading the implant into the delivery system, the guide cap enables the valve prosthesis to be coupled to the connector of the delivery system and allows the valve prosthesis to be compressed so as to be entirely capsuled in the delivery system with relatively easy and quick operations, thereby reducing surgery time during its clinical use.

A tool for disconnecting a battery from an electrical connector pad, the tool having a body connected to at least three prongs, including a first outer prong, a second outer prong, and a middle prong. Each prong has a proximal portion connected to a distal portion by a sloped portion. The middle prong may have a side extension, including a side extension proximal portion, a side extension sloped portion, and a side extension distal portion. The tool may be part of kit comprising at least one battery adapted to be disconnected using the tool.

An assembly for collapsing a prosthetic heart valve includes a compression member and a pusher member. The compression member has a first open end with a first diameter, a second open end with a second diameter less than the first diameter, and a tapered wall between the first open end and the second open end. The pusher member has a base adapted to engage an end of the valve. The pusher member and the compression member are movable relative to one another between an initial position in which the base of the pusher member is relatively far from the first open end of the compression member and an operative position in which the base of the pusher member is relatively close to the first open end of the compression member. Movement of the pusher and compression members from the initial position to the operative position radially compresses the valve.

A device and method for loading an implant into a delivery system are disclose which are capable of simplifying operations required in interventional surgery using the implant. The device includes a guide cap (1), a guider (2) and a guiding tube (3). The guide cap (1) has a conical section (101) and a straight or conical tube (103) in communication with a small open end (102) of the conical section, and the conical section has a large open end (104) that flares outward, thereby forming a flange (105) facing the tube (103). The guider (2) has tapered sections (9, 10) that are tapered along an axis of the guider and thus form large and small open ends (8, 11). The small open end (11) has a diameter greater than a diameter of the small open end (102) of the conical section of the guide cap (1). The guide cap (1) and the guider (2) are so sized that the flange (105) can cover and be locked to the guider (2), with an end portion of the straight or conical tube (103) protruding from the small open end (11) of the guider (2). The guiding tube (3) is a round tube with two open ends, in which the first open end has a diameter greater than the diameter of the small open end (102) of the conical section of the guide cap and smaller than the diameter of the small open end (11) of the guider.

A latch and catch arrangement is disclosed, whereby a sleeve supporting a flexible hinge with an extended finger is oriented over a fluid connection to a socket guide. An alignment via a latch and catch between the sleeve and tool collar orients a flexible hinge, which may be of reduced thickness, over a bearing in a guide. The finger moves upward when a tool is inserted into a tool socket, and the flexible hinge, properly oriented by the alignment catch/latch, keeps the finger in the tool socket while allowing necessary movement to insert and remove a tool.

Devices and methods for assembling a luer lock fitting (e.g., fitting for use in a hemodialysis and/or a peritoneal dialysis machine) may include a luer lock tool comprising a tool base including a grip portion adjacent a tool portion, the grip portion having an outer diameter and an internal cavity. The tool portion may have an internal cavity and may be configured to selectively receive and retain a male luer lock fitting at a first end of the cavity. A tool cap may have an outer diameter and an internal cavity. The tool cap may include a recessed portion at an end configured to selectively receive and retain a female luer lock fitting. The tool cap internal cavity may be configured to receive at least a portion of the tool portion of the tool base.

A tool for installing a retainer ring onto the lower portion of a loosely inserted drain fitting for engaging a mounting flange thereto includes a generally resilient tubular segment provided with a plurality of axially aligned and resiliently cantilevered peripherally adjacent strips within which the retaining ring is received in a compressed engagement seated on a shoulder of each strip. A threaded shaft extends through a bottom plate of the segment received in the drain fitting and then through the cup interior to axially advance the axially aligned ring carried by the strips. A platform for both supporting the threaded shaft within the drain fitting and for supporting a garbage disposal on a base is included.

An assembly tool for facilitating assembly of a surgical instrument includes a handle, a neck extending from the handle, and a portion of or an entire pivot pin engaged with the neck via a frangible connection. The pivot pin is engagable with the surgical instrument. The frangible connection is configured to break upon application of stress thereto above a threshold, thereby separating the pivot pin (or portion thereof) from the neck. A method of assembling using such an assembly tool includes positioning a component of a surgical instrument for receipt of a pivot pin, manipulating the assembly tool to operably engage the pivot pin with the component, and manipulating the assembly tool to apply stress to the frangible connection to break-off the pivot pin (or portion thereof) from the assembly tool along the frangible connection.

A process, using simple tools, is provided for the removal and replacement of lawn sprinkler units in a manner that facilitates alignment of threaded components and prevents entrance of lawn soil into water distribution piping that feeds the sprinkler units.

A rail fence retractor allowing removal of a fence rail engaged with a fence post comprising a blade having a first and second end. The first end of the blade is configured for insertion into a fence post slot having a rail inserted therein. The rail has self-locking tabs which must be depressed for removal of the rail from the fence post slot. The fence rail retractor also has a handle which is attached to the second end of the blade. The handle allows the application of force against handle to fix the position of the handle against the fence post during removal of the rail from the fence post slot. The handle is also useful in carrying the rail fence retractor when not in use. The handles of the rail fence retractor may be configured to allow integration with the blade. The handles may be also be configured to allow a pair of rail fence retractors to fit or snap together when not in use.