Abstract: Instruments and methods are disclosed for left atrial appendage (LAA) closure. An exemplary occluder comprises a lattice framework and an anchor. An exemplary delivery tool provides a catheter-based means of delivery of the occluder to the left atrium and LAA of a heart, such as a human heart, and deployment of the occluder by minimally invasive surgery.

Abstract: A sports assembly such as a basketball goal assembly with a removable ballast wherein the basketball goal comprises a base and a ballast component, which is separate from the base. In the assembled configuration, the ballast member preferably extends beyond the rear of the base to increase the pullover force required to topple the unit and provide more stability. A support pole preferably is mounted at the rear of the base. Thus, by extending the ballast member beyond the rear of the base, the advantage of rearwardly disposed ballast may be achieved. In order to be easily transported, the ballast component may comprise one large tank with wheels or the like, or multiple attachable tanks. In another embodiment of the invention, there is a sports apparatus ballast having two removable members which engage a structural member of the particular sports apparatus such as the pole of a basketball goal assembly.