Abstract: Certain embodiments provide an apparatus comprising a hand-piece, an outer tube coupled to the hand-piece, an inner tube housed within the outer tube and having a distal end coupled to a soft tip and a proximal end coupled to an adapter, a proximal end of the adapter coupled to a distal end of a valve, the valve slidably coupled to the hand-piece, and a core slidably coupled to the hand-piece and having a distal end coupled to a proximal end of the valve. To retract the soft tip, the valve is retracted, causing the adapter, the valve, and the core to slidably retract in a proximal direction in relation to the hand-piece, and to extend the soft tip, the valve is protracted, causing the adapter, the valve, and the core to slidably protract in a distal direction in relation to the hand-piece.

Abstract: A high-voltage disconnector includes first and second contact elements movable along a disconnecting axis with first and second latching elements fixed thereto, respectively, a drive system for moving the first contact element in an opening direction along the axis to open the disconnector, and a restoring system for restoring the second contact element counter to the opening direction. With the disconnector closed, the first and second latching elements are arranged in a latched connection with one another. During an initial phase of the movement of the first contact element in the opening direction the latched connection initially remains, and the second contact element is carried along by the first contact element in the opening direction. During a disconnecting phase, the latched connection is released, the second element is restored by the restoring system counter to the opening direction, and the second contact element is disconnected from the first contact element.