Vascular and bodily duct treatment devices and methods

Abstract

Devices including, but not limited to, a self-expandable member having a proximal end portion and a main body portion. The self-expandable member is movable from a first delivery position to a second placement position, in the first delivery position the expandable member being in an unexpanded position and having a nominal first diameter and in the second position the expandable member being in a radially expanded position and having a second nominal diameter greater than the first nominal diameter for deployment within a vessel or duct of a patient. The expandable member includes a plurality of cell structures with the cell structures in the main body portion extending circumferentially around a longitudinal axis of the expandable member and the cell structures in the proximal end portion extending less than circumferentially around the longitudinal axis of the expandable member.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An embolic obstruction retrieval device comprising:
 an elongate self-expandable member having a radially expanded configuration and a radially constrained configuration, the expandable member being biased in the expanded configuration and comprising a plurality of generally longitudinal undulating elements with adjacent undulating elements of the plurality being interconnected in a manner to form a plurality of diagonally disposed cells defining a cell pattern, the expandable member having a proximal portion, an elongate central body portion, and a distal portion,   wherein the cell structures in the central body portion are circumferentially disposed about a longitudinal axis of the expandable member, and   wherein a longitudinal slit free of undulating elements extends lengthwise along the central body portion of the expandable member.   
     
     
         22 . The embolic obstruction retrieval device of  claim 21 , wherein the slit extends along an entire length of the expandable member. 
     
     
         23 . The embolic obstruction retrieval device of  claim 21 , wherein the slit extends diagonally, the slit defining a spiral free of undulating elements around the longitudinal axis of the central body portion. 
     
     
         24 . The embolic obstruction retrieval device of  claim 23 , wherein the slit extends diagonally along an entire length of the expandable member. 
     
     
         25 . The embolic obstruction retrieval device of  claim 21 , wherein a first undulating element in the proximal portion comprises a first substantially linear rail, and a second undulating element in the proximal portion forms a second substantially linear rail, each of the first and second substantially linear rails forming acute angles with the longitudinal axis of the expandable member, and wherein the slit originates at one of the first and second substantially linear rails. 
     
     
         26 . The embolic obstruction retrieval device of  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of adjacent undulating elements are disposed and interconnected in a manner so as to cause each cell of the plurality to be diagonally disposed relative to another cell of the plurality. 
     
     
         27 . The embolic obstruction retrieval device of  claim 21 , further comprising a proximally extending elongate wire coupled to a proximal-most end of the proximal portion of the expandable member. 
     
     
         28 . The embolic obstruction retrieval device of  claim 21 , further comprising a distally extending wire segment coupled to a distal-most end of the distal portion of the expandable member. 
     
     
         29 . The embolic obstruction retrieval device of  claim 21 , wherein the cells in the central body portion of the expandable member are symmetrically aligned with one another along a length of the central body portion. 
     
     
         30 . The embolic obstruction retrieval device of  claim 21 , wherein the cells in the central body portion of the expandable member are symmetrically unaligned with one another along a length of the central body portion. 
     
     
         31 . The embolic obstruction retrieval device of  claim 21 , wherein at least a portion of the expandable member is coated with a radiopaque material or otherwise comprises radiopaque markers. 
     
     
         32 . An embolic obstruction retrieval device comprising:
 an elongate self-expandable member having a radially expanded configuration and a radially constrained configuration, the expandable member being biased in the expanded configuration and comprising a plurality of generally longitudinal undulating elements with adjacent undulating elements of the plurality being interconnected in a manner to form a plurality of diagonally disposed cells defining a cell pattern, the expandable member having a proximal portion, an elongate central body portion, and a distal portion, wherein the cell structures in the central body portion are circumferentially disposed about a longitudinal axis of the expandable member,   wherein a longitudinal slit free of undulating elements extends lengthwise and diagonally along the expandable member, the slit defining a spiral free of undulating elements around the longitudinal axis, and   wherein a first undulating element in the proximal portion comprises a first substantially linear rail, and a second undulating element in the proximal portion forms a second substantially linear rail, each of the first and second substantially linear rails forming acute angles with the longitudinal axis of the expandable member, and wherein the slit originates at one of the first and second substantially linear rails.   
     
     
         33 . The embolic obstruction retrieval device of  claim 32 , wherein the slit extends along an entire length of the expandable member. 
     
     
         34 . The embolic obstruction retrieval device of  claim 32 , wherein the plurality of adjacent undulating elements are disposed and interconnected in a manner so as to cause each cell of the plurality to be diagonally disposed relative to another cell of the plurality. 
     
     
         35 . The embolic obstruction retrieval device of  claim 32 , wherein at least a portion of the expandable member is coated with a radiopaque material or otherwise comprises radiopaque markers.