At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to an earpiece having a swappable inflatable tip.

An apparatus may comprise: a metal pipe portion extending from a first end to a first transition end and defining a first radially outer surface and a first radially inner surface, the first transition end comprising a first tooth element and a second tooth element disposed circumferentially adjacent to the first tooth element; and a polymeric pipe portion having a second transition end and defining a second radially outer surface and a second radially inner surface, the second transition end having a complimentary shape to the first transition end, the second transition end coupled to the first transition end.

A method is described for opening a heat bonded sterile connection that includes a skin of material blocking flow between the connection site. The method includes applying external pressure to the connection site.

A tool is provided in a kit of parts for an implantable penile prosthesis that includes a first tubing section and a first connector that is attachable to a second tubing section and a second connector. The tool has a vertex end and an open end, a first arm extending from the vertex end to a first distal end, and a second arm extending from the vertex end to a second distal end. The first distal end is spaced apart from the second distal end to define the open end of the tool.

An apparatus and method for joining pipes includes a plate for melting mating surfaces of the pipes to be joined. Additionally, the apparatus utilizes a vacuum in order to push the first and second pipes together in lieu of hand or mechanical pressure which may be inconsistent. Additionally, the vacuum allows the pipes to be joined to settle on each other in order to create a pressure about a periphery of the end of the pipe being joined to the other pipe. The consistent pressure creates a very strong joint between the first and second pipes.

A method for assembling two tubes (1, 2) made from thermoplastic materials, that involves welding by heating two applied rotational contact surfaces of two parts of two tubes (1, 2), respectively, arranged end to end or overlapping coaxially (XX′). The method involves induction heating of at least one conductive welding element (4), arranged at the interface (3) between the two contact surfaces, by generating a magnetic field at said conductive welding element or elements, such that the melting of the thermoplastic materials constituting said contact surfaces produces a continuous and sealed weld at said interface on at least one closed loop along the entire perimeter of said interface.

A method of creating a weld between a liner of a section of lined pipe and an electrofusion fitting. The fitting comprises at least one heating element, which is suitably disposed on or in an outer surface of the electrofusion fitting and is electrically isolated from an inner surface of the fitting. The method comprises locating an end of the electrofusion fitting within an end of the section of lined pipe, locating an induction coil within a bore of the electrofusion fitting in the vicinity of the at least one heating element, and supplying electrical power to the induction coil to energise the at least one heating element by electromagnetic induction.

The invention relates to a weldable connecting element 2 for connecting or joining thermo-plastic line elements 3. The connecting element 2 comprises: a thermoplastic body 4; at least one heating element 6, which is embedded in the body 4, wherein the heating element 6 serves to generate heat in a welding area 5 for welding the body 4 to the at least one line element 3. Furthermore, a joining control 12 is provided, which is configured to prohibit the welding operation and/or to interrupt the welding operation if the body 4 and the line element 3 are not joined correctly.

A method of joining a non-metallic pipe to a metallic pipe. The pipe may be wrapped with one or more sheets of reinforcement material (e.g., pre-impregnated fiberglass, carbon fiber, or aramid fiber) and then fitted with an adapter or fitting that is connectable to a metallic pipe. The reinforcement material may be heated using a heating apparatus which allows the material to bond to the pipe to strengthen the joint.

A sterile connection device includes first and second carriages. The first carriage defines a first portion of a proximal slot and a first portion of a distal slot, while the second carriage defines second portions of the proximal and distal slots. A controller executes a sterile connection procedure in which a solid cutting blade is heated, followed by the heated blade being moved to a cutting position to cut sealed proximal and distal tubes received by the slots. The second carriage moves proximally or distally with respect to the first carriage so as to align the cut ends of the tubes. The heated blade then moves out of the cutting position, followed by the first carriage moving toward the second carriage so as to press the cut ends of the tubes into contact with each other so as to sterilely connect the cut ends and define a joined tube.