Apparatus, system, and method for vasculature obstruction removal

Abstract

In embodiments of an obstruction removal device, system, and/or method, an expandable member is configured to be slidably coupled to a guide wire. The expandable member is configured to surround at least a portion of an obstruction captured by a stentriever as the expandable member transitions from the expanded state to the contracted state, i.e., when the guide wire is removed from a vasculature to remove the stentriever and the obstruction from the vasculature. A first locking member is located at a base of the expandable member. The first locking member is configured to engage a second locking member that is located on the guide wire, the stentriever, or an inner surface of a guide catheter, thereby coupling the expandable member to the guide wire, the stentriever, or the inner surface of the guide catheter when the expandable member is deployed within the vasculature.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An obstruction removal system, comprising:
 a guide catheter configured to be inserted within a vasculature;   a guide wire having a distal end configured to be inserted within the guide catheter and disposed proximate to an obstruction in the vasculature;   a stentriever disposed at a distal end of the guide wire, the stentriever configured to engage the obstruction in the vasculature;   an expandable member slidably coupled to the guide wire, the expandable member being configured to transition between a contracted state and an expanded state, wherein the expandable member is configured to surround at least one portion of the stentriever and the obstruction as the expandable member transitions from the expanded state to the contracted state when the guide wire is removed from the vasculature to remove the stentriever and the obstruction from the vasculature; and   a first locking member at a base of the expandable member, the first locking member configured to engage a second locking member on the guide wire, the stentriever, or an inner surface of the guide catheter, thereby coupling the expandable member to the guide wire, the stentriever, or the inner surface of the guide catheter.   
     
     
         2 . The obstruction removal system of  claim 1 , wherein the second locking member is on the inner surface of the guide catheter at or near a distal end of the guide catheter. 
     
     
         3 . The obstruction removal system of  claim 2 , wherein the first locking member is configured to disengage the second locking member when the guide wire is removed from the vasculature to remove the stentriever and the obstruction from the vasculature. 
     
     
         4 . The obstruction removal system of  claim 1 , wherein the second locking member is attached to a proximal end of the stentriever or a portion of the guide wire that is near a proximal end of the stentriever. 
     
     
         5 . The obstruction removal system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second locking members comprise snap-fit connectors. 
     
     
         6 . The obstruction removal system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second locking members comprise cooperatively threaded connectors. 
     
     
         7 . The obstruction removal system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second locking members comprise magnetic connectors. 
     
     
         8 . The obstruction removal system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a microcatheter configured to slide the expandable member along the guide wire until the first locking member engages the second locking member.   
     
     
         9 . The obstruction removal system of  claim 1 , wherein the expandable member is configured to be inserted in a first configuration and then inverted by a frictional force when the guide wire is removed from the vasculature to remove the stentriever and the obstruction from the vasculature so that the expandable member, when inverted, surrounds the at least one portion of the stentriever and the obstruction. 
     
     
         10 . An obstruction removal device, comprising:
 an expandable member configured to be slidably coupled to a guide wire, the expandable member being configured to transition between a contracted state and an expanded state, wherein the expandable member is configured to surround at least one portion of a stentriever and an obstruction as the expandable member transitions from the expanded state to the contracted state when the guide wire is removed from a vasculature to remove the stentriever and the obstruction from the vasculature; and   a first locking member at a base of the expandable member, the first locking member configured to engage a second locking member on the guide wire, the stentriever, or an inner surface of a guide catheter, thereby coupling the expandable member to the guide wire, the stentriever, or the inner surface of the guide catheter.   
     
     
         11 . The obstruction removal device of  claim 10 , wherein the first and second locking members comprise snap-fit connectors. 
     
     
         12 . The obstruction removal device of  claim 10 , wherein the first and second locking members comprise cooperatively threaded connectors. 
     
     
         13 . The obstruction removal device of  claim 10 , wherein the first and second locking members comprise magnetic connectors. 
     
     
         14 . The obstruction removal system of  claim 10 , wherein the expandable member is configured to be inserted in a first configuration and then inverted by a frictional force when the guide wire is removed from the vasculature to remove the stentriever and the obstruction from the vasculature so that the expandable member, when inverted, surrounds the at least one portion of the stentriever and the obstruction. 
     
     
         15 . A method for removing an obstruction from a vasculature, comprising:
 inserting a guide catheter within a vasculature;   extending a guide wire through the guide catheter so that a distal end of the guide wire is disposed proximate to the obstruction in the vasculature;   engaging at least one portion of the obstruction in the vasculature with a stentriever disposed at the distal end of the guide wire;   sliding an expandable member along the guide wire until a first locking member at a base of the expandable member engages a second locking member on the guide wire, the stentriever, or an inner surface of the guide catheter, thereby coupling the expandable member to the guide wire, the stentriever, or the inner surface of the guide catheter, the expandable member being configured to transition between a contracted state and an expanded state; and   removing the guide wire from the vasculature to remove the stentriever and the obstruction from the vasculature, wherein the expandable member is configured to surround at least one portion of the stentriever and the obstruction as the expandable member transitions from the expanded state to the contracted state when the guide wire is removed from the vasculature to remove the stentriever and the obstruction from the vasculature.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the second locking member is on the inner surface of the guide catheter at or near a distal end of the guide catheter, and the first locking member is disengaged from the second locking member when the guide wire is removed from the vasculature to remove the stentriever and the obstruction from the vasculature. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the second locking member is attached to a proximal end of the stentriever or a portion of the guide wire that is near a proximal end of the stentriever. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first and second locking members comprise snap-fit connectors, cooperatively threaded connectors, or magnetic connectors. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the expandable member is slid along the guide wire using a microcatheter. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the expandable member is inserted in a first configuration and then inverted by a frictional force when the guide wire is removed from the vasculature to remove the stentriever and the obstruction from the vasculature so that the expandable member, when inverted, surrounds the at least one portion of the stentriever and the obstruction.