Apparatuses and systems are provided including a contracting member fastener. The contracting member fastener can surround the contracting member and include a clamping structure that is biased toward assuming a closed state to clamp onto the contracting member passed therethrough. A stop can be removably coupled to the fastener and maintain the fastener in an open state. A contracting-member-uptake tool can include static and dynamic cutting elements and graspers configured to pull stop proximally such that the stop pushes against and moves the dynamic cutting element with respect to the static cutting element in order to facilitate severing of the contracting member. Other applications are also provided.
