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BLOOD FLOW RESTORATION AND THROMBUS MANAGEMENT METHODS

  • US 20110238106A1
  • Filed: 06/01/2011
  • Published: 09/29/2011
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2007
  • Status: Abandoned Application
First Claim
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1. A thrombus management method, comprising:

  • identifying a cerebral vessel having a thrombus;

    inserting a guidewire into the cerebral vessel and past the thrombus;

    inserting a microcatheter over the guidewire to a location of the thrombus;

    placing a distal end of the microcatheter 0.5 to 10 millimeters past the thrombus;

    inserting an expandable tip assembly comprising a self-expanding member through the microcatheter;

    advancing the expandable tip assembly within the microcatheter such that a distal end of the self-expanding member is proximate the distal end of the microcatheter;

    retracting the microcatheter, thereby causing the self-expanding member to expand across at least a portion of the length of the thrombus,wherein said expansion compresses the thrombus against a wall of the cerebral vessel,wherein said compression of the thrombus restores blood flow within the cerebral vessel, andwherein said restored blood flow facilitates natural lysis of the thrombus;

    macerating the thrombus by moving the microcatheter to expand and compress the self-expanding member, thereby facilitating mechanical lysis and fragmentation of the thrombus to release embolic particles;

    wherein the embolic particles flow in the direction of the blood flow and are not captured by any distal embolic protection device but are instead lysed through the natural lysis process due to the restored blood flow;

    engaging a remaining portion of the thrombus after said maceration; and

    extracting said remaining portion of the thrombus from the blood vessel.

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