Turkish firm designs device to help retrieve foreign objects in blood vessels

ISTANBUL

Engineers at a Turkish medical company have designed and manufactured "Keeper," an endovascular snare that allows doctors to access and manipulate foreign bodies in the blood stream, or drain excess fluid, the firm said on Monday.

In a statement, INVAMED -- manufacturers of pharmaceutical products -- said Keeper works in varied vessel diameters using independent, short-profile rings with multiple ends, ensnaring the entire foreign body.

The minimally invasive method is the most widely used in such removal procedures. By accessing the femoral artery in the groin and the jugular vein in the neck, the foreign body can be retrieved from the body.

Though it is uncommon in non-surgical intravenous treatment options, there may be certain technical and application-related issues with the materials employed. Pacemaker, stent, wire, and coil installation are examples of these applications.

It is critical to remove foreign bodies in the vein as soon as possible, as they can induce ruptures, clotting, embolisms, or infections.