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 - 46 . (canceled)  
     
     
         47 . An intravascular apparatus for removing an obstruction from a vessel, the device comprising: 
 a microcatheter having a size and flexibility to navigate within a neurovascular region of the patient;    a near connector being self expanding and having a first expanded profile when unconstrained, such that on deployment in the vessel the near connector self expands towards the first expanded profile;    a far connector being collapsible to fit within the microcatheter and being self-expanding to assume a second expanded profile when unconstrained, such that on deployment in the vessel the second connector expands towards the second expanded profile and expands within the vessel;    at least one lead filament coupling the near connector to the microcatheter;    a plurality of traversing filaments extending between the near and far connectors, and spaced apart on each connector such that spreading the traversing filaments causes the filaments to move towards an exterior of the obstruction; and    a blood permeable filter member affixed to the far connector, the blood permeable filter being collapsible to fit within the microcatheter and self-expanding to expand in the vessel upon deployment.    
     
     
         48 . The intravascular apparatus of  claim 47 , 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.  
     
     
         49 . The intravascular apparatus of  claim 47 , further comprising a plurality of hook shaped members located on the blood permeable member.  
     
     
         50 . The intravascular apparatus of  claim 47 , further comprising a third connector located adjacent to the near connector, and a plurality of non-rotating filaments extending between the far connector and the third connector, where the first connector is rotatable relative to the far and third connectors to cause the plurality of traversing filaments to form a helical pattern.  
     
     
         51 . The intravascular apparatus of  claim 47 , 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  FIG. 8 .  
     
     
         52 . The intravascular apparatus of  claim 47 , where the far 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  FIG. 8 .  
     
     
         53 . The intravascular apparatus of  claim 47 , where the first expanded profile comprises an arcuate shape.  
     
     
         54 . The intravascular apparatus of  claim 47 , further comprising a plurality of hook shaped members located on at least one filament.  
     
     
         55 . The intravascular apparatus of  claim 47 , where the near connector is collapsible to fit within the microcatheter.  
     
     
         56 . The intravascular apparatus of  claim 47 , where the near connector is affixed to an exterior of the microcatheter.  
     
     
         57 . The intravascular apparatus of  claim 47 , where the near connector comprises a plurality of near connector portions.  
     
     
         58 . The intravascular apparatus of  claim 57 , where at least one of the near connector portions is axially spaced from another near connector portion.  
     
     
         59 . The intravascular apparatus of  claim 47 , where the far connector comprises a plurality of far connector portions.  
     
     
         60 . The intravascular apparatus of  claim 59 , where at least one of the far connector portions is axially spaced from another far connector portion.  
     
     
         61 . The intravascular apparatus of  claim 47 , further comprising at least one support ring within the filament.  
     
     
         62 . The intravascular apparatus of  claim 47 , where the a 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.  
     
     
         63 - 167 . (canceled)