This article explains, in educational terms, endovascular snare — how the technology works and where it fits. Catheters and guidewires are the working tools of minimally invasive procedures, used to gain vascular access and navigate to a target inside the body. As a medical device manufacturer, INVAMED develops technologies in this area; the information here is educational and not medical advice.
Background: Endovascular, Neurovascular and Urological Access and Delivery
Device characteristics such as diameter, length, tip shape, coating, and support are matched to the anatomy and task, and are selected by the treating clinician. Catheters and guidewires are the working tools of minimally invasive procedures, used to gain vascular access and navigate to a target inside the body. A guidewire is a thin, steerable wire that a clinician advances first to establish a path, over which catheters and other devices are then delivered.
Endovascular Snares
An endovascular snare is used to retrieve foreign bodies or misplaced devices from within the vasculature. A multi-loop design is intended to increase the chance of capturing an object across orientations. The Keeper Endovascular Snare uses a multi-loop design with maximum radial force, low-profile catheter introduction, and is single-use and sterile. Retrieval technique and device selection are directed by the operator for the specific situation.
Design and Technical Notes
INVAMED organizes its catheter and guidewire portfolio by function — access, crossing, support, delivery, and retrieval — across sizes, tip shapes, and coatings. Device sizing across French, inch, and centimeter units must be matched to the vessel, the access site, and the devices being delivered, as determined by the clinician. All INVAMED catheter and guidewire devices are intended for use by trained clinicians under appropriate imaging guidance and per the IFU.
Key Considerations
- Device sizing across French, inch, and centimeter units must be matched to the vessel, the access site, and the devices being delivered, as determined by the clinician.
- All INVAMED catheter and guidewire devices are intended for use by trained clinicians under appropriate imaging guidance and per the IFU.
- For a device under active study such as the GuideX guide extension in the GUIDEX_FR trial (NCT06009757), any comparative claims are for the trial to establish.
Frequently Asked Questions
What construction do the AngioCATH guiding catheters use?
AngioCATH Guiding Catheters use durable PEBAX/PA polymer construction with a PTFE-coated lumen and multiple tip shapes for cardiac and peripheral anatomies.
What is the GuideX guide extension catheter?
GuideX is INVAMED's mother-and-child guide extension catheter, which is the subject of a randomized clinical trial versus the Launcher guiding catheter in PCI (GUIDEX_FR, NCT06009757).
Who selects the appropriate catheter or guidewire?
A trained clinician selects devices based on the anatomy and procedural task; this content is educational and not a treatment recommendation.
About INVAMED
INVAMED operates a dedicated R&D center (INVAcenter) focused on minimally invasive device development. INVAMED is a medical device manufacturer headquartered in Ankara, Turkey, founded in 2005.
Clinical and Technical Context
The configuration selected depends on the crossing or delivery task as judged by the operator. Access is commonly established with an introducer sheath, which creates a stable, valved entry point through the vessel wall for exchanging devices. The JaGuar Guiding Sheath uses braided construction for kink resistance, while the Jaguar Braided Long Sheath adds a coil-reinforced shaft, a radiopaque marker, and an approximately 5 cm hydrophilically coated distal tip. INVAMED's portfolio includes an embolization microcatheter and a detachable-tip embolization catheter system with a distal detachable tip. Sheath French size and length are matched to the intended devices and access site by the clinician. InWIRE Peripheral Guidewires are available with nitinol or stainless steel cores in 0.035 inch and 0.038 inch diameters. Which diameter is used depends on the vessel, the devices being delivered, and clinician preference. A guidewire is a thin, steerable wire that a clinician advances first to establish a path, over which catheters and other devices are then delivered.
Related on INVAMED
- Comprehensive Catheter & Guidewire Systems — product category
- What is a hydrophilic guidewire used for?
- Guiding Catheters and Tip Shapes: Technology, Uses and Considerations
- Neurovascular Microcatheters and Distal Access Explained — A Technical Guide
Important Disclaimer
The information here is provided for educational purposes and to describe device technology; it is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Only a licensed healthcare provider can determine whether a given procedure or device is appropriate for a specific patient. INVAMED products are restricted to use by qualified professionals following the official IFU. Regulatory clearance and labeling differ between regions, and not all products or indications are available in every market.
Reviewed by the INVAMED Medical Affairs team. Content is educational and technical in nature.