# US 5,562,678 A · Needle's eye snare > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,562,678 A - Document ID: US5562678A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/458,827 - Filed: 1995-06-02 - Granted: 1996-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 1995-06-02 - Assignees: Cook Pacemaker Corporation - Inventors: Robert Booker - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5562678A ## CPC - A61B 17/29: Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery - 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 17/32056: {Surgical snare instruments (for removing or smashing calculi A61B2017/2212; tonsillotomes A61B17/26)} - A61B 2017/22035: {for retrieving or repositioning foreign objects} - A61B 2017/2212: {having a closed distal end, e.g. a loop} - A61B 2017/2215: {having an open distal end} - A61F 2002/30092: {using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol} - A61F 2210/0019: operated at only one temperature whilst inside or touching the human body, e.g. constrained in a non-operative shape during surgery, another temperature only occurring before the operation - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) ## Abstract A reversible snare (10) for grasping and retrieving an article (15) such as a cardiac lead from within a human or veterinary patient (20) includes a sheath member (25) adapted for introduction into the patient (20), and a retractable closed loop (30) carried by the sheath member (25). The closed loop (30) is composed of a shape memory material and defines a hook (35) adapted to partly encircle the article (15). The snare further includes a threader (45) also carried by the sheath member (25), the threader (45) being reversibly extendable through the closed loop (30) (like a thread through a needle's eye) so that the hook (35) and threader (45) can fully encircle the article (15). Retraction of the closed loop (30) causes the hook (35) and threader (45) to close around the article (15) and permit its withdrawal into the sheath member (25). Independent retraction of the threader (45) allows the hook (35) to disengage from the article (15). The closed loop (30) and threader (45) are both preferably composed of nitinol wire, and the loop (30) possesses a nose (40) narrower than the inside diameter of the sheath member (25), in order to minimize deformation or fracture of the closed loop (30) during repeated extension and retraction. The sheath member (25) preferably includes conventional outer and inner femoral workstation sheaths (60 and 65), as well as an inner dilator sheath (55) carrying the closed loop (30) and threader (45). The snare (10) is particularly advantageous in that it can be repeatedly disengaged and reengaged with the cardiac lead or other article (15) without suffering any decrease in its utility or degradation of its components. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A reversible snare (10) for grasping and retrieving an article (15) from within a human or veterinary patient (20), comprising: a sheath member (25) adapted for introduction into the patient (20); a retractable closed loop (30) carried by the sheath member (25), the closed loop (30) composed of a shape memory material, and the closed (30) loop defining a hook (35) adapted to partly encircle the article (15); and a threader (45) carried by the sheath member (25), the threader (45) being reversibly extendable through the closed loop (30) so that the hook (35) and threader (45) fully encircle the article (15), and retraction of the closed loop (30) causes the hook (35) and threader (45) to close around the article (15). ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The snare (10) according to claim 1, wherein the closed loop (30) and the threader (45) are slidably received in the sheath member (25). ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The snare (10) according to claim 2, wherein the closed loop (30) and the threader (45) are slidable within the sheath member (25) independent of one another. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The snare (10) according to claim 1, wherein the closed loop (30) comprises a nose (40) whose width is less than the inside diameter of the sheath member (25). ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The snare (10) according to claim 1, wherein the closed loop (30) has a pair of sides (115), and the loop sides (115) are spread apart. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The snare (10) according to claim 1, wherein the threader (45) is composed of a shape memory material. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The snare (10) according to claim 1, wherein the threader (45) is generally straight. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The snare (10) according to claim 1, wherein the threader (45) is a narrow wire loop. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The snare (10) according to claim 1, wherein the threader (45) includes an angled end portion (50). ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The snare (10) according to claim 1, wherein the sheath member (25) comprises a dilator sheath (55) carrying the closed loop (30) and the threader (45). ### Claim 11 A reversible snare (10) for grasping and retrieving an article (15) from within a human or veterinary patient (20), comprising: a sheath member (25) adapted for introduction into the patient (20); a retractable closed loop (30) carried by the sheath member (25), the closed loop (30) composed of a shape memory material, and the closed (30) loop defining a hook (35) adapted to partly encircle the article (15); a threader (45) carried by the sheath member (25), the threader (45) being reversibly extendable through the closed loop (30) so that the hook (35) and threader (45) fully encircle the article (15), and retraction of the closed loop (30) causes the hook (35) and threader (45) to close around the article (15); wherein the sheath member (25) comprises a dilator sheath (55) carrying the closed loop (30) and the threader (45); and wherein the closed loop (30) is longitudinally fixed with respect to the dilator sheath (55), and the threader (45) is longitudinally movable with respect to the dilator sheath (55). ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The snare (10) according to claim 11, wherein the sheath member (25) further comprises an outer workstation sheath (60), and an inner workstation sheath (65) slidably received in the outer workstation sheath (60); and wherein the dilator sheath (55) is slidably received in the inner workstation sheath (65). ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The snare (10) according to claim 12, wherein the outer and inner workstation sheaths (60 and 65) together comprise a femoral workstation. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The snare (10) according to claim 1, wherein the closed loop (30) is composed of nitinol wire. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The snare (10) according to claim 1, wherein the sheath member (25) comprises a handle (70) and a slider (105) carried by the handle (70); and wherein the closed loop (30) is fixedly connected to the handle (70), and the threader (45) is fixedly connected to the slider (105). ### Claim 16 A reversible snare (10) for grasping and retrieving a cardiac lead (15) from within a human or veterinary patient (20), comprising: a sheath member (25) adapted for introduction into the patient (20), comprising an outer femoral workstation sheath (60), an inner femoral workstation sheath (65) slidably received in the outer workstation sheath (60), a dilator sheath (55) slidably received in the inner workstation sheath (60), a handle (70) affixed to the dilator sheath (55), and a slider (105) carried by the handle (70); a closed loop (30) positioned within the dilator sheath (55) and fixedly connected to the handle (70), the closed loop (30) being composed of nitinol wire and defining a hook (35) adapted to partly encircle the cardiac lead (15), the closed loop (30) having a spread apart pair of sides (115) and a nose (40) whose width is less than the inside diameter of the dilator sheath (55), and the closed loop (30) being reversibly retractable upon relative movement of the dilator sheath (55) and the inner workstation sheath (65); and a threader (45) positioned within the dilator sheath (55) and fixedly connected to the slider (105), the threader (45) being composed of nitinol wire configured as a narrow loop and reversibly extendable through the closed loop (30) upon relative movement of the handle (70) and the slider (105); the threader (45) being generally straight but possessing an angled end portion (50) facilitating passage of the threader (45) into the closed loop (30); so that the hook (35) and threader (45) fully encircle the cardiac lead (15), and retraction of the closed loop (30) causes the hook (35) and threader (45) to close around the article (15).