Devices and methods for removal of acute blockages from blood vessels

Abstract

An aspiration catheter including an elongate body and an expansile distal tip continuous with the elongate body. An expanding assembly is alignable internal to the expansile distal tip and connected proximally to a control wire. The expanding assembly includes a proximal position within the expansile distal tip proximal of a distal most end of the expansile distal tip. In a distal position where the expanding assembly is distally moved, by the control wire, until being aligned with and contacting the distal most end of the expansile distal tip causing the expansile distal tip to form a funnel mouth to receive clot.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An aspiration catheter comprising:
 an elongate body;   an expansile distal tip continuous with the elongate body;   an expanding assembly alignable internal to the expansile distal tip and connected proximally to a control wire, the expanding assembly comprising:   a proximal position within the expansile distal tip proximal of a distal most end of the expansile distal tip; and   a distal position where the expanding assembly is distally moved, by the control wire, until being aligned with and contacting the distal most end of the expansile distal tip causing the expansile distal tip to form a funnel mouth to receive clot.   
     
     
         2 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the catheter is a rapid exchange catheter. 
     
     
         3 . The catheter of  claim 1 , the expansile distal tip comprising a distal segment and a proximal segment, the distal segment comprising a diameter larger than a diameter of the proximal segment. 
     
     
         4 . The catheter of  claim 3 , the control wire passing through both the distal and proximal segments of the expansile distal tip. 
     
     
         5 . The catheter of  claim 3 , the proximal segment comprising a catheter Rx shaft with an inner lumen. 
     
     
         6 . The catheter of  claim 1 , the distal end of the expanding assembly comprises a plurality of struts actuatable by the control wire that form the funnel mouth. 
     
     
         7 . The catheter of  claim 1 , the expansile distal tip being distally tapered when the expanding assembly is in the proximal position. 
     
     
         8 . The catheter of  claim 7 , wherein the expansile distal tip comprises a plurality of radially arranged folds configured to facilitate the expansile distal tip expanding to form the funnel mouth of the distal position. 
     
     
         9 . The catheter of  claim 1 , the expanding assembly comprising a super elastic material and one or ore more wires comprising a memory alloy. 
     
     
         10 . The catheter of  claim 1 , the expanding assembly being self expandable and comprising a memory alloy. 
     
     
         11 . The catheter of  claim 1 , the expanding assembly being incapable of protruding distal of the expansile distal tip. 
     
     
         12 . A method, comprising:
 positioning an expanding assembly, in a proximal position internal to an expansile distal tip of a catheter;   connecting a control wire proximal to the expanding assembly; and   moving the expanding assembly, by the control wire, until being aligned with and contacting the distal most end of the expansile distal tip thereby causing the expansile distal tip to form a funnel mouth to receive clot.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , the expansile distal tip comprising a distal segment and a proximal segment, the distal segment comprising a diameter larger than a diameter of the proximal segment. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 passing the control wire through both the distal and proximal segments of the expansile distal tip.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , the proximal segment comprising a catheter Rx a shaft with an inner lumen. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1  the expansile distal tip being distally tapered when the expanding assembly is in the proximal position. 
     
     
         17 . The catheter of  claim 1 , the expanding assembly comprising a super elastic material and one or ore more wires comprising a memory alloy. 
     
     
         18 . The catheter of  claim 1 , the expanding assembly being self expandable and comprising a memory alloy. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 preventing, by the expansile distal tip, the expanding assembly from protruding distal of the expansile distal tip.