Method and apparatus for allowing blood flow through an occluded vessel

Abstract

A device arranged to sustain and/or provide at least partial patency of a small blood vessel exhibiting an occlusion, the device constituted of a tubular body expandable from a first small diameter state for manipulation to, and through, the occlusion of the small blood vessel and a second large diameter state, the inner dimensions of the second large diameter state being no more than 50% of the diameter of the small blood vessel at the occlusion location, the device presenting a conduit for blood flow through the occlusion when in the large diameter state. In one embodiment the small blood vessel is an intracranial blood vessel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for retrieving at least a portion of an occlusion from a small blood vessel of 5 mm or less inner diameter, comprising:
 a first section comprising a tubular body deliverable into and across said occlusion, said tubular body expandable within said occlusion, said tubular body defining a distal end and a proximal end; said tubular body comprising braided filaments;   a second member section extending from said proximal end of said tubular body and comprising filaments interweaved in said braided filaments of said tubular body, wherein said second member section is configured to be tensioned so as to reduce a diameter of said tubular body.   
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said small blood vessel is an intracranial blood vessel. 
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said member section is inherently connected to said tubular body, defining an elongated protrusion of said expandable tubular body. 
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said braided filaments of said tubular body are arranged in a ‘one over one under’ braiding pattern. 
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said tubular body comprises between 8 and 36 filaments. 
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said device is sized to fit within a delivery catheter. 
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 6 , wherein tensioning of said member section reduces a diameter of said tubular body enough to provide for retracting said tubular body into said delivery catheter. 
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 6 , wherein said member section extends throughout the delivery catheter and is long enough to be accessible from outside said delivery catheter. 
     
     
         9 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said tubular body is coated with an elastic non-porous material. 
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a flexible rod or a filament connected to said distal end of said tubular body. 
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 10 , wherein said flexible rod or filament comprise a cross sectional area of less than 0.1 mm̂2. 
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 10 , wherein said flexible rod or filament is pullable or pushable with respect to said member section to increase or decrease a length of said tubular body between said proximal end and said distal end, thereby reducing or enlarging a diameter of said tubular body. 
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 10 , wherein said device is sized to fit within a delivery catheter and wherein said flexible rod or filament extends throughout the delivery catheter and is long enough to be accessible from outside said delivery catheter. 
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 10 , wherein said flexible rod or filament extends distally beyond said distal end of said tubular body. 
     
     
         15 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein a length of said tubular body is between 2 mm and 40 mm longer than a length of said occlusion. 
     
     
         16 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said tubular body is expandable from an initial small diameter state to a second large diameter state, said large diameter state limited to a maximal allowed value determined according to a diameter of said blood vessel at the occlusion location. 
     
     
         17 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the braiding angle of said braided filaments of the tubular body is between 60° and 150°. 
     
     
         18 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein in its largest diameter state said tubular body comprises a generally circular profile. 
     
     
         19 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said tubular body is configured to allow blood to flow through. 
     
     
         20 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said second member section is formed of a bundle of filaments. 
     
     
         21 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a part of said tubular body is formed of radiopaque material.