Method and apparatus for increasing blood flow through an obstructed blood vessel

Abstract

A method of restoring perfusion to a blood vessel with an obstruction. The method includes delivering an expandable member into the blood vessel, said expandable member having a tubular mesh defined between a proximal end and a distal end; causing the expandable member to expand and compress the obstruction; and dislodging the obstruction to restore blood flow through the blood vessel.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method of restoring perfusion to a blood vessel with an obstruction, the method comprising:
 delivering an expandable member into the blood vessel, said expandable member having a tubular mesh defined between a proximal end and a distal end;   causing the expandable member to expand and compress into the obstruction; and   dislodging the obstruction to restore blood flow through the blood vessel.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the expandable member is attached to a delivery system. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , the delivery system comprising a microcatheter one or more guidewires for actuating the expandable member from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the expandable member compresses into the obstruction by applying a radially outward force against the obstruction. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the dislodging step includes proximally withdrawing the expandable member after compressing into the obstruction. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the obstruction comprises a harder material, and wherein the dislodging step includes fracturing a portion of the obstruction. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the dislodging step includes fracturing a portion of the obstruction, and wherein the expandable member continues compressing into the obstruction as the portion of the obstruction are dislodged. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the removing step includes removing the fractured portion of the obstruction. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: chemically lysing the obstruction. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the step of chemically lysing includes providing a pharmaceutical agent. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the step of chemically lysing includes eluting the pharmaceutical agent from the expandable member. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the expandable member is self-expanding. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the blood vessel is a cerebral blood vessel. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the dislodging step includes at least a portion of the obstruction passing through at least one of a plurality of interstices of the tubular mesh. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein compressing into the obstruction, by the expandable member, causes strands of the expandable member to penetrate the obstruction. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of dislodging further comprises:
 longitudinally separating a portion of the obstruction by compressing strands of the expandable mesh into the obstruction.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: compressing the obstruction against a vessel wall of the blood vessel. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: expanding the expandable member in response to at least one of congested blood flow through the blood vessel and dislodgement of the obstruction.