Devices and methods for removing material from a patient

Abstract

A containing element is used to capture material in a blood vessel for removal. The containing element is positioned within a constraining catheter while it is advanced through the blood vessel. A filament is coupled to the containing element which assists in opening and/or closing the containing element.

1 . A device for removing occlusive material from a blood vessel, the device comprising:
 a constraining catheter;   a containing element configurable into each of a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration, said containing element at least partially encompassed by said constraining catheter when in said collapsed configuration, said containing element further comprising an expandable interior chamber for containing said occlusive material and an outer wall portion adapted to restrict antegrade flow in said blood vessel when in use, wherein a distal portion of said containing element in said collapsed configuration comprises a filament extending distal of said outer wall portion,   wherein, as said containing element expands towards said expanded configuration when released from said constraining catheter, said filament biases towards an unbiased shape that causes said filament to retract proximally into said distal portion and opens said distal portion; and   an actuator operatively coupled to said distal portion for reducing an area of a distal opening of said distal portion after capturing said occlusive material within said chamber.