# US 10,945,756 B2 · Device of inserting and controlling a snare > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,945,756 B2 - Document ID: US10945756B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/782,564 - Filed: 2013-03-01 - Published: 2014-09-04 - Granted: 2021-03-16 - Earliest claimed: 2013-03-01 - Assignees: Catch Medical, LLC - Applicants: Catch Medical, LLC - Inventors: Timothy Nieman; Tab Robbins; Collin George Cowley - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10945756B2 ## CPC - A61B 17/32056: {Surgical snare instruments (for removing or smashing calculi A61B2017/2212; tonsillotomes A61B17/26)} - A61B 17/221: Gripping devices in the form of loops or baskets {for gripping calculi or similar types of obstructions (surgical snare instruments A61B17/32056)} - A61B 2017/00358: {Snares for grasping} - A61B 2017/00469: {for insertion of instruments, e.g. guide wire, optical fibre} - A61B 2017/0053: {Loading magazines or sutures into applying tools} - A61B 2017/22035: {for retrieving or repositioning foreign objects} - A61B 2017/2212: {having a closed distal end, e.g. a loop} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract Embodiments of the present invention relate to systems, methods, and apparatus for introducing and/or controlling a snare in a lumen (e.g., a lumen of a catheter tube, a body lumen, etc.). In one example, a snare loading device can reduce the size of a loop on a snare to allow the snare to be inserted into the catheter tube. Furthermore, before and/or after insertion of the snare into the catheter tube, the snare loading device can control the snare, by transferring motion thereto. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A snare loading device for loading a snare having a wire, the snare loading device comprising: a main body comprising a distal opening and a proximal opening, wherein the proximal opening is configured to permit entry of a distal end of the snare through the proximal opening into the main body; a main channel located in the main body and extending between the distal opening and the proximal opening, the main channel being sized and configured to accept the snare such that the snare extends across an entirety of the main body; a collapsing taper located in the main body and near a proximal end thereof, the collapsing taper being connected to or merging with the main channel; a cam disposed completely within the main body and rotatably coupled to the main body; a lock slidably coupled to the main body, wherein the lock is configured to transfer a force exerted directly by a user on the lock to push the cam, thereby causing the cam to rotate toward and engage the wire of the snare; and a handle configured to axially translate the snare and to couple to the main body, wherein the cam comprises a flat angled surface on top of the cam configured to interface with the lock in a manner that rotates the cam, thereby locking the snare in the main channel, and wherein the flat angled surface extends from a distal end of the cam toward a proximal end of the cam. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The snare loading device as recited in claim 1, wherein: the main channel comprises a locking portion; and the cam is positioned in a manner that rotation of the cam clamps the snare in the locking portion of the main channel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The snare loading device as recited in claim 2, wherein the locking portion has a curvilinear shape that curves away from the cam such that the curvilinear shape of the locking portion provides a concave surface for interaction with the snare. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The snare loading device as recited in claim 3, wherein the cam comprises a locking bottom portion that has a convex surface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The snare loading device as recited in claim 1, wherein the main channel has a curvilinear configuration. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The snare loading device as recited in claim 1, wherein the main body further comprises a tip on a distal end thereof, the tip being sized and configured to couple to a luer. ### Claim 7 A snare loading device for loading a snare having a loop and a wire, the snare loading device comprising: a main body comprising a distal opening and a proximal opening, wherein the proximal opening is configured to permit entry of a distal end of the snare through the proximal opening into the main body; a main channel located in the main body, the main channel being sized and configured to accept the wire of the snare such that the wire extends across an entirety of the main body, the main channel defining the distal opening and the proximal opening, the distal opening being configured to compress the loop of the snare; a cam disposed completely within the main body and directly rotatably coupled to the main body; a lock slidably secured to the main body, the lock, configured transfer a force exerted directly by a user on the lock to push the cam such that the cam rotates and engages the wire of the snare, wherein the entire lock slides along the main body; and a handle configured to axially translate the snare and to couple to the main body. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The snare loading device as recited in claim 7, wherein the main body further comprises one or more closure locks and corresponding one or more locking sections configured to secure a left half and a right half together. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The snare loading device as recited in claim 8, wherein the one or more closure locks and the corresponding one or more locking sections form an interference lock therebetween. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The snare loading device as recited in claim 7, wherein the main body has a tip on the distal end thereof, the tip being sized and configured to fit into one or more of a catheter tube and a luer. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The snare loading device as recited in claim 10, wherein the distal opening has an inward curve. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The snare loading device as recited in claim 7, wherein the main channel is defined by and disposed between a left half of the main body and a right half of the main body, wherein the left half of the main body and the right half of the main body are separate and distinct components that are secured to one another. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The snare loading device as recited in claim 12, wherein: the main body further comprises one or more of the distal locking tabs and proximal locking tabs; and the lock is configured to slide over the one or more of distal locking tabs and proximal locking tabs to secure the left half of the main body and the right half of the main body together. ### Claim 14 A snare loading device for loading a snare having a wire, the snare loading device comprising: a main body comprising a distal opening and a proximal opening, wherein the proximal opening is configured to permit entry of a distal end of the snare through the proximal opening into the main body; a main channel located in the main body and extending between the distal opening and the proximal opening, the main channel being sized and configured to accept the snare such that the snare extends across an entirety of the main body; a collapsing taper located in the main body and near a proximal end thereof, the collapsing taper being connected to or merging with the main channel; a cam disposed completely within the main body and rotatably coupled to the main body; a lock slidably coupled to the main body, wherein the lock is configured to transfer a force exerted directly by a user on the lock to push the cam, thereby causing the cam to rotate toward and engage the wire of the snare; a handle configured to axially translate the snare and to couple to the main body, wherein the cam comprises a flat angled surface on top of the cam and the cam is disposed above the main channel, and wherein the flat angled surface extends from a distal end of the cam toward a proximal end of the cam.