The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 11, 2003
Filed:
Feb. 02, 2000
András Kónya, Houston, TX (US);
Kenneth C. Wright, Houston, TX (US);
Board of Regents, The University of Texas System, Austin, TX (US);
Abstract
A retrieval device or snare for grasping foreign articles and retrieving them from the body of a patient. The retrieval device includes a catheter open at both ends such that it may be advanced along a guidewire. The distal end of a wire is attached to the first catheter near an opening system within the catheter. The opening system may be a slot or a pair of holes. A portion of the wire is oriented external of the catheter. Manipulation of the proximal end of the wire causes a portion of the wire to form a loop external of the catheter. The catheter may be tapered, as may be the wire. A reinforcing- material may be attached to the portion of the wire that forms the loop. Another reinforcing material may also be attached to the proximal portion of the wire in order to stiffen the wire and improve its pushability. A guidewire may be inserted into a patient and maneuvered to an appropriate location within the patient, the catheter may be advanced over the guidewire, the wire attached to the catheter may be manipulated to capture a foreign body with the loop, and the catheter and foreign body may be withdrawn from the patient.