Methods for restoring blood flow within blocked vasculature
First Claim
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1. A method of improving blood flow in a blood vessel having an obstruction, the method comprising:
- advancing a microcatheter into the blood vessel, the microcatheter containing an obstruction removal device having an expandable structure located at the end of a leading member, the expandable structure including an intermediate portion extending between a proximal end and a distal end and including first and second regions, the expandable structure comprising a plurality of filaments and having a central longitudinal axis;
positioning an opening of the microcatheter beyond a distal end of the obstruction;
deploying the distal end of the obstruction removal device beyond the distal end of the obstruction such that the distal end of the obstruction removal device self-expands towards the blood vessel wall;
withdrawing the microcatheter proximal to the obstruction while maintaining the expandable structure of the obstruction removal device in position such that the proximal and distal ends of the expandable structure span across the obstruction and where the proximal end self-expands within the vessel while spaced apart from the obstruction, thereby allowing the intermediate portion to embed into the obstruction;
holding the obstruction via the intermediate portion of the expandable structure between the first and second regions, wherein the filaments of the expandable structure converge radially inwardly toward the central longitudinal axis to meet within each of the first and second regions; and
withdrawing the obstruction removal device and obstruction from the vessel to improve blood flow in the blood vessel.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The devices and methods described herein relate to clearing of blockages within body lumens, such as the vasculature, by addressing the frictional resistance on the obstruction prior to attempting to translate and/or mobilize the obstruction within the body lumen.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method of improving blood flow in a blood vessel having an obstruction, the method comprising:
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advancing a microcatheter into the blood vessel, the microcatheter containing an obstruction removal device having an expandable structure located at the end of a leading member, the expandable structure including an intermediate portion extending between a proximal end and a distal end and including first and second regions, the expandable structure comprising a plurality of filaments and having a central longitudinal axis; positioning an opening of the microcatheter beyond a distal end of the obstruction; deploying the distal end of the obstruction removal device beyond the distal end of the obstruction such that the distal end of the obstruction removal device self-expands towards the blood vessel wall; withdrawing the microcatheter proximal to the obstruction while maintaining the expandable structure of the obstruction removal device in position such that the proximal and distal ends of the expandable structure span across the obstruction and where the proximal end self-expands within the vessel while spaced apart from the obstruction, thereby allowing the intermediate portion to embed into the obstruction; holding the obstruction via the intermediate portion of the expandable structure between the first and second regions, wherein the filaments of the expandable structure converge radially inwardly toward the central longitudinal axis to meet within each of the first and second regions; and withdrawing the obstruction removal device and obstruction from the vessel to improve blood flow in the blood vessel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of improving blood flow in a blood vessel having an obstruction, the method comprising:
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advancing an obstruction removal device within the blood vessel where the obstruction removal device comprises an expandable structure with an intermediate portion extending between a proximal end and a distal end and including first and second regions, the expandable structure comprising a plurality of filaments and having a central longitudinal axis; deploying the distal end and the proximal end of the expandable such that the expandable structure spans across the obstruction and the intermediate portion expands within the vessel to embed into the obstruction; holding the obstruction via the intermediate portion of the expandable structure between the first and second regions, wherein the filaments of the expandable structure converge radially inwardly toward the central longitudinal axis to meet within each of the first and second regions; and withdrawing the obstruction removal device and obstruction from the vessel to improve blood flow in the blood vessel. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification