Obstruction Removal System

Abstract

An obstruction removal device is described, having one or more engaging members which can engage portions of the clot. The one or more engaging members have a collapsed, delivery state, and an expanded, deployed state.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An obstruction removal device comprising:
 a plurality of linked engaging members;   a proximal structure connected to at least one of said plurality of independent engaging members;   a sheath;   wherein said plurality of independent engaging members include a collapsed configuration when contained in said sheath and an expanded configuration when released from said sheath;   wherein each of said engaging members assumes said collapsed and expanded configurations independently of the other engaging members.   
     
     
         2 . The obstruction removal device of  claim 1  wherein in said expanded configuration, at least one of said plurality of linked engaging members forms a shape selected from the group consisting of round, oval, elliptical, hourglass, spherical, basket, stent, countered, rectangular, prismatic and cage. 
     
     
         3 . The obstruction removal device of  claim 1  wherein at least one of said plurality of linked engaging members comprises a center of gravity that is displaced from a geometric center of said engaging member. 
     
     
         4 . The obstruction removal device of  claim 1  further comprising a radiopaque distal structure connected to a distal end of said plurality of linked engaging members. 
     
     
         5 . The obstruction removal device of  claim 1  wherein at least one of said plurality of linked engaging members may rotate independently of other engaging members. 
     
     
         6 . The obstruction removal device of  claim 1  wherein each of said plurality of linked engaging members comprises a cell pattern. 
     
     
         7 . The obstruction removal device of  claim 1  wherein said cell patterns of said engaging members are selected based on a function assigned to each engaging member. 
     
     
         8 . A method of removing an obstruction from a body lumen comprising:
 navigating a catheter to an obstruction in a body lumen containing an obstruction removal device therein, said obstruction removal device including a plurality of linked engaging members in a collapsed configuration;   unsheathing said obstruction removal device thereby allowing a plurality of linked engaging members to assume an expanded configuration;   retracting said obstruction removal device through said obstruction;   resheathing said engaging members independently of distally adjacent engaging members;   removing said obstruction removal device and said obstruction.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein navigating a catheter to an obstruction in a body lumen containing an obstruction removal device therein, said obstruction removal device including a plurality of linked engaging members in a collapsed configuration comprises navigating a catheter to an obstruction in a body lumen containing an obstruction removal device therein, said obstruction removal device including a plurality of engaging members, each engaging member able to rotate independently of the other engaging members. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising allowing each of said plurality of linked engaging members to rotate freely as said engaging member interacts with said obstruction. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8  wherein unsheathing said obstruction removal device comprises unsheathing said obstruction removal device distal of said obstruction. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8  wherein unsheathing said obstruction removal device comprises unsheathing said obstruction removal device such that at least one of said plurality of linked engaging members is distal of said obstruction and at least one of said plurality of linked engaging members is not distal of said obstruction. 
     
     
         13 . An obstruction removal device comprising:
 a plurality of self-expanding linked engaging members each able to rotate about a longitudinal axis independently of each other and each including:   a distal end and a proximal end;   a collapsed configuration in which said engaging member is contained within a sheath;   an expanded configuration in which a body of said engaging member between said proximal and distal ends expands radially while said proximal and distal ends does not expand such that said engaging member assumes a bulbous shape.   
     
     
         14 . The obstruction removal device of  claim 13  wherein in said bulbous shape is a shape selected from the group consisting of round, oval, elliptical, hourglass, spherical, basket, stent, countered, rectangular, prismatic and cage. 
     
     
         15 . The obstruction removal device of  claim 13  wherein at least one of said plurality of linked engaging members comprises a center of gravity that is displaced from a geometric center of said engaging member. 
     
     
         16 . The obstruction removal device of  claim 13  further comprising a radiopaque distal structure connected to a distal end of said plurality of linked engaging members. 
     
     
         17 . The obstruction removal device of  claim 13  wherein at least one of said plurality of linked engaging members expands independently of other engaging members. 
     
     
         18 . The obstruction removal device of  claim 13  wherein each of said plurality of linked engaging members comprises a cell pattern. 
     
     
         19 . The obstruction removal device of  claim 18  wherein said cell patterns of said engaging members are selected based on a function assigned to each engaging member. 
     
     
         20 . The obstruction removal device of  claim 19  wherein said functions include dislodging obstructions and catching obstructions.