A faucet valve cartridge pulling tool comprising a housing, a stem screw, and a collar. The housing has a first end and a second end. The first end has a surface adapted to abut a portion of a faucet valve body. The stem screw has a first end and a second end. The stem screw includes a first threaded section and a second threaded section. The first threaded section is adapted to engage internal threading of a faucet valve cartridge stem located within the faucet valve body. The collar has internal threading engaging the second threaded section of the stem screw. Wherein, rotating the collar relative to the stem screw pulls the first threaded portion axially towards the second end of the housing.

An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for optimizing a valve orifice shape. According to one representative embodiment, a method includes determining a specified relationship between a valve position and an output characteristic, and determining an orifice profile. The method also includes determining a relationship of an orifice area to the output characteristic. Further, the method includes shaping an orifice in a valve based on the orifice profile and the specified relationship between the valve position and the output characteristic. According to the method, the valve should approximately exhibit the specified relationship.

A device for crimping a radially expandable and collapsible prosthetic valve comprises a crimping loop having a first end portion, a second end portion, and a loop portion extending between the first and second end portions and defining an opening configured to receive the prosthetic valve. The crimping loop is movable between a first state in which the opening has a first diameter and a second state in which the opening has a second diameter smaller than the first diameter such that when the prosthetic valve is positioned within the loop portion, movement of the crimping loop from the first state to the second state is effective to reduce a diameter of the prosthetic valve. A method for crimping a prosthetic valve comprises reducing a diameter of an opening of a crimping loop, thereby radially compressing an at least partially expanded prosthetic valve disposed within the opening.

A faucet valve cartridge pulling tool comprising a housing, a stem screw, and a collar. The housing has a first end and a second end. The first end has a surface adapted to abut a portion of a faucet valve body. The stem screw has a first end and a second end. The stem screw includes a first threaded section and a second threaded section. The first threaded section is adapted to engage internal threading of a faucet valve cartridge stem located within the faucet valve body. The collar has internal threading engaging the second threaded section of the stem screw. Wherein, rotating the collar relative to the stem screw pulls the first threaded portion axially towards the second end of the housing.

A device for crimping a radially expandable and collapsible prosthetic valve comprises a crimping loop having a first end portion, a second end portion, and a loop portion extending between the first and second end portions and defining an opening configured to receive the prosthetic valve. The crimping loop is movable between a first state in which the opening has a first diameter and a second state in which the opening has a second diameter smaller than the first diameter such that when the prosthetic valve is positioned within the loop portion, movement of the crimping loop from the first state to the second state is effective to reduce a diameter of the prosthetic valve. A method for crimping a prosthetic valve comprises reducing a diameter of an opening of a crimping loop, thereby radially compressing an at least partially expanded prosthetic valve disposed within the opening.

A method of crimping a prosthetic valve on a delivery catheter having an inflatable balloon includes releasably attaching a holding mechanism to a shaft of the delivery catheter, wherein the holding mechanism is connected to a crimping device, positioning the prosthetic valve in the crimping device, actuating the crimping device to radially crimp the prosthetic valve onto the balloon or onto the shaft of the delivery catheter at a location adjacent the balloon, and removing the holding mechanism from the delivery catheter after crimping the prosthetic valve.

An assembly method is provided by orienting a cylinder-head at a first orientation. A first plurality of spring caps and a first plurality of retainer keys are installed into the cylinder-head in the first orientation by a first robot. A first plurality of valves is installed into the cylinder-head in the first orientation by a second robot, into engagement with the first plurality of retainer keys. An end effector is provided with an actuator supported upon an adapter plate. A shaft extends from the actuator with a mating surface to engage a spring cap. Porting is provided through the shaft to convey pressurized air upon a plurality of retainer keys within the spring cap. A plurality of gripper fingers extend from the distal end of the shaft to grip a valve spring while retaining a spring cap between the valve spring and the mating surface of the shaft.

A valve core removal tool can include a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end. A valve core gripper can be coupled to the distal end of the shaft and can include a first valve core engaging surface and an opposing second valve core engaging surface spaced therefrom. The first and second valve core engaging surfaces can be flexible and movable relative to each other between a first position, where the free ends of the first and second valve core engaging surfaces are spaced apart a first distance, and a second position, where the free ends of the first and second valve core engaging surfaces are spaced apart a second distance that is greater than the first distance. The first and second valve core engaging surfaces can be spring-biased in the first position for gripping a valve core between the first and second valve core engaging surfaces.

A device for crimping a radially expandable and collapsible prosthetic valve comprises a crimping loop having a first end portion, a second end portion, and a loop portion extending between the first and second end portions and defining an opening configured to receive the prosthetic valve. The crimping loop is movable between a first state in which the opening has a first diameter and a second state in which the opening has a second diameter smaller than the first diameter such that when the prosthetic valve is positioned within the loop portion, movement of the crimping loop from the first state to the second state is effective to reduce a diameter of the prosthetic valve. A method for crimping a prosthetic valve comprises reducing a diameter of an opening of a crimping loop, thereby radially compressing an at least partially expanded prosthetic valve disposed within the opening.

A device for crimping a radially expandable and collapsible prosthetic valve comprises a coiled wire frame having a longitudinal opening extending from a proximal end to a distal end thereof. The opening has a first state and a second state, the opening in the first state having a first diameter dimensioned to receive the prosthetic valve in an expanded or partially crimped configuration therein, and the opening in the second state having a second diameter dimensioned to receive the prosthetic valve in a crimped configuration. The coiled wire frame has a first end coupled to a first member and a second end coupled to a second member. The first member is movable relative to the second member to convert the coiled wire frame from the first state to the second state.