Kristofer Langheinrich

US Patent:

20120004666, Jan 5, 2012

Filed:

Jul 2, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/830060

Inventors:

Collin George Cowley - Salt Lake City UT, US
Creighton Ralph Petty - Salt Lake City UT, US
Alexander David Snyder - St. George UT, US
Andrew Steven Hansen - Eagle Mountain UT, US
Tyler David Rees - Salt Lake City UT, US
Kristofer Langheinrich - Louisville KY, US

Assignee:

THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH - Salt Lake City UT

International Classification:

A61B 17/22

US Classification:

606127

Abstract:

Apparatus, assemblies, and methods for capturing objects within a body are disclosed. A surgical snare device includes a steerable deflection portion with a steerable distal tip. An interface is linked to the steerable deflection portion to selectively manipulate the distal tip. A snare loop disposed at the distal tip can have a length that remains substantially constant as the distal tip is deflected and the snare loop moves in concert with the distal tip. The distal tip may deflect up to at least one-hundred eighty degrees, while the snare loop moves a corresponding amount. A method includes extending a snare through a body lumen and to a location near an object. The snare may have a loop that changes positions while maintaining the same length. The loop may be placed around an object and then used to retrieve the object from the body lumen.