What is a Snare medical equipment?
A snare is a device that may be used to remove intravascular foreign bodies such as wires or coils. A snare consists of a wire with a nitinol loop at the end. The plane of the loop is oriented perpendicular to the long axis of the wire. The snare is advanced through a catheter.
Under fluoroscopic guidance, the loop is used to engage a free edge of the foreign body. The wire and loop are retracted into the catheter. This locks the foreign body between the snare loop and catheter. The snare, loop, and foreign body are then removed in unison.
A snare in medical equipment is a loop-like device used to encircle, grasp, and remove tissue or foreign bodies during various medical procedures. It’s most commonly used in endoscopy and interventional procedures.
Common Uses:
- Polypectomy snare – Used in gastrointestinal endoscopy to remove polyps from the colon, stomach, or other areas of the GI tract.
- Foreign body retrieval snare – Used to remove objects accidentally swallowed or lodged in airways or vessels.
- Vascular snares – Employed in interventional radiology or cardiology to retrieve wires, catheters, or embolic devices.
Structure:
- Typically consists of a flexible wire loop attached to a handle.
- The loop can be extended and retracted to capture tissue or objects.
- May use electric current (electrocautery) in procedures like polypectomy to help cut and cauterize tissue.
