Devices for restoring blood flow within blocked vasculature

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.

1 .- 27 . (canceled)  
   
   
       28 . An intravascular apparatus for removing an obstruction from a vessel of a patient, the device comprising: 
 a microcatheter having a size and flexibility to navigate within a neurovascular region of the patient;    a near connector having a first expanded profile when unconstrained, such that on deployment in the vessel the near connector expands towards the first expanded profile;    at least one lead filament coupling the near connector to the microcatheter; and    a plurality of traversing filaments connected to the near connector and spaced apart on the near connector such that spacing the traversing filaments causes the filaments to move towards a wall of the vessel.    
   
   
       29 . The intravascular apparatus of  claim 28 , further comprising a blood permeable member affixed to the far connector, the blood permeable member being collapsible to fit within the microcatheter.  
   
   
       30 . The intravascular apparatus of  claim 29 , where the blood permeable member comprises a structure selected from the group consisting of a basket, a filter, a bag, a coil, a helical wire structure, a mesh, a corrugated sheet, a braided wires, a single wound wire, a plurality of crossing wires, a tube, a membranes, and a film.  
   
   
       31 . The intravascular apparatus of  claim 29 , further comprising a plurality of hook shaped members located on the blood permeable member.  
   
   
       32 . The intravascular apparatus of  claim 28 , further comprising a second connector located adjacent to the near connector, and a plurality of non-rotating filaments connected to the second connector, where the first connector is rotatable relative to the second connectors to cause the plurality of traversing filaments to form a helical pattern.  
   
   
       33 . The intravascular apparatus of  claim 32 , where the near and second connectors are rotatable relative to each other to cause at least a section of the plurality of filaments to cross one another.  
   
   
       34 . The intravascular apparatus of  claim 33 , where the second connector is stationary and the near connector is rotatable.  
   
   
       35 . The intravascular apparatus of  claim 33 , where the second connector and the near connector are rotatable in opposite directions.  
   
   
       36 . The intravascular apparatus of  claim 28 , where the near connector comprises a shape selected from a circle, an arcuate shape, a partial circular shape, a loop, an oval, a square, a rectangle, a polygon, an overlapping loop, a pair of semi-circles, a flower shape, and a figure 8.  
   
   
       37 . The intravascular apparatus of  claim 28 , where the first expanded profile comprises an arcuate shape.  
   
   
       38 . The intravascular apparatus of  claim 28 , further comprising a plurality of hook shaped members located on at least one filament.  
   
   
       39 . The intravascular apparatus of  claim 28 , where the near connector is collapsible to fit within the microcatheter.  
   
   
       40 . The intravascular apparatus of  claim 28 , where the near connector is affixed to an exterior of the microcatheter.  
   
   
       41 . The intravascular apparatus of  claim 28 , where the near connector comprises a plurality of near connector portions.  
   
   
       42 . The intravascular apparatus of  claim 41 , where at least one of the near connector portions is axially spaced from another near connector portion.  
   
   
       43 . The intravascular apparatus of  claim 28 , further comprising at least one support ring within the filament.  
   
   
       44 . The intravascular apparatus of  claim 28 , where the near connector, the lead filament, and the plurality of traversing filaments, are collapsible to fit within the microcatheter and are self-expanding upon deployment from the microcatheter.  
   
   
       45 . The intravascular apparatus of  claim 28 , where at least one of the traversing filaments is moveable relative to the near connector so that tension may be applied to the respective filament to spread the filaments.  
   
   
       46 . The intravascular apparatus of  claim 28 , where the filaments are fixed relative to the near connector such that axial movement of the lead wire causes axial movement of the near connector and filaments.  
   
   
       47 .- 167 . (canceled)