Radial expansion control mechanisms for intraluminal device

Abstract

An intraluminal device and a method of removing a clot from a body lumen with an intraluminal device may be provided. The intraluminal device may include a hollow elongated shaft and a radially-expandable mesh segment situated distal to the elongated shaft. The elongated shaft may be secured relative to a first portion of the mesh segment. The intraluminal device may additionally include a core wire affixed to a second portion of the mesh segment and extending through the elongated shaft. The elongated shaft may be configured to radially expand the mesh segment by axially moving the first portion of the mesh segment relative to the second portion of the mesh segment. In addition, the core wire may be configured to radially expand the mesh segment by axially moving the second portion of the mesh segment relative to the first portion of the mesh segment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An intraluminal device, comprising:
 a hollow elongated shaft having a distal end and a proximal end;   a first radially-expandable mesh segment situated distal to the elongated shaft, wherein the elongated shaft is secured relative to a first portion of the first mesh segment; and   a core wire affixed to a second portion of the first mesh segment and extending through the elongated shaft,   wherein the elongated shaft is configured to radially expand the first mesh segment by axially moving the first portion of the first mesh segment relative to the second portion of the first mesh segment, and   wherein the core wire is configured to radially expand the first mesh segment by axially moving the second portion of the first mesh segment relative to the first portion of the first mesh segment.   
     
     
         2 . The intraluminal device of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first portion of the first mesh segment includes a proximal end of the first mesh segment; and   wherein the second portion of the first mesh segment includes a distal end of the first mesh segment.   
     
     
         3 . The intraluminal device of  claim 1 , wherein the axial movement of the first portion of the first mesh segment is in a distal axial direction relative to the second portion of the first mesh segment. 
     
     
         4 . The intraluminal device of  claim 1 , wherein the axial movement of the second portion of the first mesh segment is in a proximal axial direction relative to the first portion of the first mesh segment. 
     
     
         5 . The intraluminal device of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated shaft and core wire are configured to simultaneously radially expand the first mesh segment. 
     
     
         6 . The intraluminal device of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated shaft and core wire are configured to effect equidistant axial movement of the first portion of the first mesh segment and the second portion of the first mesh segment, respectively. 
     
     
         7 . The intraluminal device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a handle situated proximal to the elongated shaft, wherein the elongated shaft and the core wire are configured for axial movement relative to the handle.   
     
     
         8 . The intraluminal device of  claim 7 , wherein the handle comprises:
 a first handle segment secured relative to the core wire; and   a second handle segment secured relative to the elongated shaft,   wherein the first handle segment and second handle segment are configured for equidistant movement in opposite axial directions.   
     
     
         9 . The intraluminal device of  claim 7 , wherein the handle is configured to be secured relative to a delivery catheter such that the elongated shaft and the core wire are configured for axial movement relative to the delivery catheter. 
     
     
         10 . The intraluminal device of  claim 9 , wherein the handle comprises:
 a locking shaft extending from the distal end of the handle over at least a portion of the elongated shaft, wherein the locking shaft of the handle is configured to be secured to at least a portion of the delivery catheter.   
     
     
         11 . The intraluminal device of  claim 1 , wherein the first mesh segment comprises:
 a plurality of wires woven to form the first mesh segment, wherein the first mesh segment is configured to capture a blood clot.   
     
     
         12 . The intraluminal device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second radially-expandable mesh segment situated between the first mesh segment and the elongated shaft,   wherein the elongated shaft is affixed to a proximal end of the second mesh segment and is configured to radially expand the first mesh segment and the second mesh segment by axially moving the proximal end of the second mesh segment, and   wherein the core wire is configured to radially expand the first mesh segment and the second mesh segment by axially moving a distal end of the first mesh segment.   
     
     
         13 . The intraluminal device of  claim 12 , wherein the second mesh segment comprises:
 a plurality of wires woven to form the second mesh segment, wherein the second mesh segment is configured to capture a blood clot.   
     
     
         14 . A method of removing a clot from a body lumen, the method comprising:
 positioning a radially-expandable mesh segment of an intraluminal device downstream of the clot in the body lumen while the mesh segment is in a radially-contracted state, the mesh segment having a proximal end and a distal end;   radially-expanding the mesh segment by moving the proximal end of the mesh segment a first distance in a first direction and by moving the distal end of the mesh segment a second distance in a second direction, wherein the first distance is equal to the second distance and wherein the first direction is opposite the second direction;   moving the radially-expanded mesh segment into engagement with the clot; and   removing the clot by moving the radially-expanded mesh segment in an upstream direction.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the proximal and distal ends of the mesh segment move simultaneously during radial expansion of the mesh segment. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the first direction is a distal direction and the second direction is a proximal direction. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the intraluminal device further comprises:
 a hollow elongated shaft situated proximal to the mesh segment, wherein the elongated shaft is secured relative to the proximal end of the mesh segment;   a core wire affixed to the distal end of the mesh segment; and   a handle situated proximal to the elongated shaft, wherein the elongated shaft and the core wire move axially relative to the handle during radial expansion of the mesh segment.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the elongated shaft and the core wire move simultaneously to radially expand the mesh segment. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein radially-expanding the mesh segment comprises:
 axially moving the proximal end of the mesh segment relative to the distal end of the mesh segment with the elongated shaft; and   axially moving the distal end of the mesh segment relative to the proximal end of the mesh segment with the core wire.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the handle comprises:
 a first handle segment secured relative to the core wire; and   a second handle segment secured relative to the elongated shaft,   wherein the first handle segment and second handle segment move the same distance in opposite axial directions during radial expansion of the mesh segment.