Blood clot retrieval system with an expandable blood clot engagement framework

Abstract

To provide a clot removal device.SOLUTION: A clot removal device is for removing clots from the body blood vessel. The device can easily collect clots by expanding so as to combine with clots in a remarkable surface area. The clot can have at least one hard part and at least one soft part. At least one hart part of the clot can be gripped by a proximal part of the device, while at least one soft part of the clot can be held by a distal part of the device when extracted. However, moving and removing the clot can shear or rupture the softer part of the clot and, as a result, small floating fragments of the clot in the blood vessel stop adhering to the main clot. The device also can capture and hold distal parts of the clots that are shorn or expanded when removing the clot from the blood vessel.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1B

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure generally relates to devices and methods for removing obstructions from blood vessels during endovascular medical procedures.

Background Art

[0002] The present invention relates to an apparatus for removing acute obstructions from blood vessels. Acute occlusions can include blood clots, mispositioned devices, displaced devices, large emboli, and the like. Thromboembolism occurs when part or all of a blood clot detaches from the vessel wall. This blood clot (herein referred to as an embolus) is then carried in the direction of blood flow. An ischemic attack can result when a blood clot forms in the venous system or on the right side of the heart and becomes lodged in the pulmonary artery or its branches. Blood clots can also develop in the form of emboli without being released and locally occlude blood vessels, and this mechanism is common in the formation of obstructions in the coronary arteries.

[0003] Blood clots can often be sheared or damaged when removed from blood vessels. The present invention is particularly suitable for removing blood clots from the entire blood vessel without shearing the blood clot and / or leaving a residual portion of the blood clot. The device can be used within the cerebral arteries of patients suffering from acute ischemic stroke (AIS), within native or graft blood vessels of patients suffering from myocardial infarction (MI), within the pulmonary arteries of patients suffering from pulmonary embolism (PE), and within other peripheral arteries and veins where blood clots are causing occlusion.

Summary of the Invention

Means for Solving the Problems

[0004] A clot removal device for removing clots from the body's blood vessels is presented herein. The device can facilitate clot retrieval by expanding to engage the clot over a significant surface area. The clot can have at least one rigid portion and at least one soft portion. At least one rigid portion of the clot can be clamped by the proximal portion of the device, while at least one soft portion of the clot can be held by the distal portion of the device during extraction. The clamping can be achieved by advancing a microcatheter or an intermediate catheter over the device until a portion of the clot is compressed between the tip of the catheter and a crown or strut on the device. However, the movement and removal of the clot may shear or break the softer portions of the clot, resulting in small floating fragments of the clot within the blood vessel becoming detached from the main clot. The device is also intended to capture or hold sheared or expanded distal portions of the clot when removing the clot from the blood vessel.

[0005] In some embodiments presented herein, a microcatheter and a guidewire can be inserted into a patient's vasculature via a retrieval catheter and advanced across the clot. When the microcatheter is in place, the guidewire can be removed to allow the clot retrieval device to advance through the microcatheter to the clot. The device can be advanced in a collapsed configuration. Then, the microcatheter can be retracted while the position of the device is maintained so that the device is deployed across the clot.

[0006] In some embodiments, the device can include a clot engagement framework, a hypo tube, and a distal plug protection system. The engagement framework can have a collapsed delivery configuration, a clot engagement deployment configuration, and a clot clamping configuration. The engagement framework can also have a proximal end, a distal end, and a distal tip. The hypo tube can include a distal end at least partially surrounded by a helical clot engagement framework. The distal plug protection system can expand from a collapsed delivery configuration within the hypo tube to a deployed configuration distal to the distal end of the hypo tube.

[0007] In some embodiments, after the device is deployed across the blood clot, the microcatheter can be advanced distally into the engagement framework to move the engagement framework into a blood clot clamping configuration. In the blood clot clamping configuration, the struts at the proximal end of the engagement framework can be compressed such that the blood clot can be clamped. The distal embolic protection system can then be advanced through the hypo tube in a collapsed delivery configuration and deployed to an expanded configuration distal to the distal end of the hypo tube. The struts of the engagement framework in the deployed configuration can have blood clot gripping surfaces for engaging and holding onto the rigid portions of the blood clot. After the device is in the clamping configuration and the distal embolic protection system is deployed, the microcatheter and the device can be retracted toward the retrieval catheter. During retraction, the smaller, softer portions of the blood clot may be broken or sheared off from the harder, larger blood clot. The distal embolic protection system can function as an inclusive mechanism for holding these softer portions of the blood clot during removal of the device. The device can be removed through the retrieval catheter.

[0008] In some embodiments described herein, the device may include a pull wire and a stentriever. The pull wire may be fixed adjacent to the distal end of the stentriever. The stentriever may include a proximal helical section, a distal cylindrical section, and a distal cone. At least a portion of the helical section may surround the pull wire. The stentriever may expand from a collapsed delivery configuration to a clamping configuration as the microcatheter is retracted as described above, and then further expand to an expanded configuration. In the clamping configuration, the distal cylindrical section may have a first diameter, and the microcatheter may advance distally toward the proximal helical section to fold the opening of the proximal helical portion and clamp a rigid portion of the blood clot between the distal end of the microcatheter and the proximal helical section. After the stentriever is in the clamping configuration, the pull wire may be retracted to expand the stentriever to the expanded configuration. In the expanded configuration, the distal cylindrical section may expand radially to a second, larger diameter and engage any soft portion of the blood clot that may otherwise be vulnerable to shearing or breakage upon removal of the device. After the stentriever is in the expanded configuration, the microcatheter and the device may be retracted through the vasculature into the retrieval catheter for removal from the patient.

[0009] Exemplary methods for treating a patient having an occluded blood vessel can include one or more of the following steps presented in no particular order, and the methods can include additional steps not included herein. A clot engagement framework positioned within a microcatheter can be delivered to a target occluded blood vessel. A hypo tube having a distal embolic protection system can be delivered to the occluded blood vessel using the clot engagement framework. The clot engagement framework can be deployed to contact at least a portion of the clot. The hypo tube can be advanced across the clot. The microcatheter can be advanced over a proximal portion of the clot engagement framework, thereby sandwiching the clot. The distal embolic protection system can be deployed. Then, the clot engagement framework, the distal embolic protection system, and the clot can be withdrawn from the patient. The method can further include gripping the clot on an outer surface of the hypo tube. The method can also include capturing clot fragments using the distal embolic protection system.

[0010] Another exemplary method for treating a patient having an occluded blood vessel can include one or more of the following steps presented in no particular order, and the method can include additional steps not included herein. An apparatus including a stentriever and a pull wire can be delivered to the occluded blood vessel through a microcatheter. The stentriever can be deployed such that a proximal helical portion of the stentriever forms a helix and a distal cylindrical portion of the stentriever forms a cylinder, and can contact at least a portion of the clot. At least a portion of the clot can be sandwiched by the helical portion of the stentriever. Retracting the pull wire can cause the cylindrical portion of the stentriever to expand radially. The microcatheter and the apparatus can be simultaneously withdrawn from the blood vessel. Then, the apparatus, the microcatheter, and the clot can be removed from the patient. The method can further include collecting at least a portion of the clot within a distal cone of the stentriever. The method can also include positioning the apparatus such that at least a portion of the helical section surrounds the pull wire.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0011] The present invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of some of its embodiments shown for illustrative purposes only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings, where like reference numerals denote identical or functionally similar elements. The terms "distal" and "proximal" are used in the following description with respect to the position or direction relative to the treating physician. "Distal" or "distally" means a position away from or a direction away from the physician. "Proximal" or "proximally" or "adjacent" means a position near or a direction towards the physician.

[0013] Access to the brain, coronary arteries, and pulmonary veins involves the use of a number of commercially available products and conventional treatment procedures. Access products such as guidewires, guide catheters, angiography catheters, and microcatheters are described elsewhere and are routinely used in catheterization procedures. In the following description, it is assumed that these products and methods are used in conjunction with the devices and methods of the present invention, and it is not necessary to describe them in detail.

[0014] The following detailed description is merely illustrative in nature and is not intended to limit the present invention or its application and use. The description of the present invention is often in the context of treating intracranial arteries, but the present invention can also be used in other body passages as described above.

[0015] The expandable member of the disclosed design is desirably made of a material that can automatically recover its shape when released from a strongly deformed delivery configuration. Superelastic materials such as Nitinol or alloys having similar properties are particularly suitable. The material can be in many forms such as wire or strip or sheet or tube. A particularly suitable manufacturing process is to laser cut a Nitinol tube and then heat treat and electropolish the resulting structure to create a framework of struts and connection elements. This framework can be of any of a wide variety of shapes as disclosed herein and can be visualized under fluoroscopy through the addition of alloying elements (such as platinum, etc.) or through various other coatings or marker bands.

[0016] As used herein, the terms "tubular" and "tube" are to be construed broadly and are not limited to a straight cylindrical structure, a structure with a strictly circular cross-section, or a structure with a uniform cross-section over its length. For example, a tubular structure or tubular system is generally depicted as a substantially straight cylindrical structure. However, a tubular system can have a tapered or curved outer surface without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0017] This device is intended to facilitate clot retrieval by expanding to engage a clot over a significant surface area. A portion of the clot can be sandwiched between the tip of the catheter and the nitinol struts of the device. The clot can have at least one rigid portion and at least one soft portion. At least one rigid portion of the clot can be sandwiched by the proximal portion of the device, while at least one soft portion of the clot can be held by the distal portion of the device during extraction. The sandwiching can be achieved by advancing a microcatheter or an intermediate catheter over the device until a portion of the clot is compressed between the tip of the catheter and a crown or strut on the device. This sandwiching increases the gripping force of the device on the clot, particularly on fibrin-rich clots, making it easier to remove the clot. This can also stretch the clot and reduce the force required for movement by pulling the clot away from the vessel wall during the process of moving it. However, the movement and removal of the clot may shear or break the soft portion of the clot, resulting in small floating fragments of the clot within the vessel that no longer adhere to the main clot. This device is also intended to capture and hold the soft sheared or expanded distal portion of the clot when removing the clot from the vessel.

[0018] Figures 1A and 1B show the delivery of a clot retrieval device 110 from a blood vessel 100 to a target location for removing a clot 101. As shown in Figure 1A, a microcatheter 103 and a guidewire are inserted into the vasculature 100 via a retrieval catheter 104 and can be advanced across the clot 101 using conventionally known techniques. Once the microcatheter 103 is positioned distal to the clot 101, the guidewire can be removed from the vasculature so that the clot retrieval device 110 can be advanced through the microcatheter 102. The device 110 can be advanced in a collapsed configuration until the distal tip of the device 110 reaches the distal end of the microcatheter 103.

[0019] In FIG. 1B, the microcatheter 103 can be retracted while the position of the device 110 is maintained such that the device 110 is deployed across the blood clot 101 in a manner where the distal end of the device 110 is positioned distal to the blood clot 101.

[0020] As further shown in FIGS. 2A - 2C, the device 110 can include a blood clot engagement framework 112, a hypo tube 111, and a distal plug protection system 115. The engagement framework 112 can have a collapsed delivery configuration, a blood clot engagement deployment configuration, and a blood clot clamping configuration. The engagement framework can also have a proximal end 112a, a distal end 112b, and a distal tip 162. In the blood clot clamping configuration, at least a portion of the blood clot engagement framework 112 can be configured to engage a rigid portion of the blood clot 101 in the deployment configuration and clamp the blood clot 101 when moving from the deployment configuration to the blood clot clamping configuration. The hypo tube 111 can include a proximal end and a distal end, and the distal end is at least partially surrounded by the blood clot engagement framework 112 adjacent to the distal end of the hypo tube 111. The hypo tube 111 can also have a blood clot gripping outer surface. The distal plug protection system 115 can be movable from a collapsed delivery configuration within the hypo tube 111 to an expanded deployment configuration distal to the distal end of the hypo tube. The distal plug protection system 115 can also have a proximal edge 115a.

[0021] In Figure 2A, the device 110 is shown in a deployed configuration. As can be seen in Figure 2A, at least a portion of the clot engagement portion 112 surrounds the hypotenuse 111 in a helical configuration. As shown in Figure 2B, when the microcatheter 103 is advanced distally into the engagement framework 112, the engagement framework can move to a clot clamping configuration, whereby the struts at the proximal end 112a of the engagement framework are compressed to clamp and extract the clot from the blood vessel. This clamping effect can be seen by the arrows shown in Figures 2A and 2B. The cells in this section are opened when the device 110 is fully deployed. When the device 110 is compressed by the microcatheter 103, the cells close to "clamp" the clot 101 in order to grip it more firmly to remove the clot 101 therebetween. As further shown in Figure 2C, the distal embolic protection system 115 can be advanced through the hypotenuse 111 in a folded delivery configuration and deployed to an expanded configuration outside the hypotenuse 111. The embolic protection system 115 can be deployed distally relative to the distal end of the hypotenuse 111. The embolic protection system 115 can be deployed distally of the distal tip 162 of the engagement framework 112.

[0022] In FIGS. 3A - 3E, the removal of clot 101 from a blood vessel using clot retrieval device 110 is shown. As previously described with respect to FIGS. 1A and 1B, device 110 can be advanced across clot 101. As shown in FIG. 3A, when microcatheter 103 is retracted, engagement framework 112 can expand into a deployed configuration. The struts of engagement framework 112 in the deployed configuration can have a clot gripping surface for engaging and holding onto the rigid portion of clot 101a to assist in the removal of clot 101. After the engagement framework is in the deployed configuration, distal embolic protection system 115 can be deployed into an expanded configuration distal to the distal tip 162 of engagement framework 112. Next, as shown in FIG. 3B, microcatheter 103 can be advanced to sandwich the rigid portion of the clot between the microcatheter and engagement framework 112 as previously described. FIG. 3E shows an enlarged view of the configuration of device 110 where engagement framework 112 is in a clamping configuration clamping the rigid proximal end of clot 101a and protection system 115 is deployed. After clamping is achieved, the microcatheter and device can be retracted through the vasculature towards retrieval catheter 104 as shown in FIG. 3C. During retraction, the smaller, softer portion of clot 101b can potentially break or shear off from the larger, harder clot 101. Distal embolic protection system 115 can function as an encompassing mechanism to hold these softer portions of the clot during removal of the device. Protection system 115 can form a barrier between the soft clot fragment 101b and the distal portion of the blood vessel to prevent the clot fragment 101b from re - entering the blood vessel and ensure that the clot fragment 101b is removed along with the remaining portion of clot 101.

[0023] In FIG. 3D, device 110 is removed through retrieval catheter 104. Distal embolic protection system 115 in the expanded deployed configuration can be sized to move through retrieval catheter 104.

[0024] Similar to those of FIGS. 1A and 1B, FIGS. 4A and 4B show the delivery of the clot retrieval device 200 from the blood vessel 100 to the target location for removing the clot 101. As shown in FIG. 4A, the microcatheter 103 and the guide wire are inserted into the vasculature 100 via the retrieval catheter 104 and can be advanced across the clot 101 using conventionally known techniques. The clot 101 can have at least one rigid portion and at least one soft portion as described above. When the microcatheter 103 is positioned distal to the clot 101, the guide wire can be removed from the vasculature so that the clot retrieval device 200 can advance through the microcatheter 103. The device 200 can be advanced in a collapsed configuration until the distal tip of the device 200 reaches the distal end of the microcatheter 103.

[0025] In FIG. 4B, the microcatheter 103 can be retracted while the position of the device 200 is maintained such that the device 200 is deployed across the clot 101 in a manner where the distal end of the device 200 is positioned distal to the clot 101. The device 200 can include a pull wire 204 and a stent releaser 202. The pull wire 204 can be fixed to the stent releaser 202 adjacent to the distal end of the stent releaser 202. The stent releaser 202 can include a proximal helical section 206, a distal cylindrical section 208, and a distal cone 210. At least a portion of the helical section 206 can surround the pull wire 204. The stent releaser 202 can be configured to expand from a collapsed delivery configuration to a clamping configuration and then further expand to an expanded configuration. In the collapsed delivery configuration, the stent releaser 202 and the pull wire 204 can be inside the catheter 103. The device can also include a distal protection system 115 similar to that described in the preceding figures.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 5A, in the clamping configuration, a portion of the stent releaser 202 and the pull wire 204 may be located outside the catheter 103. In the clamping configuration, the distal cylindrical section 208 may have a first diameter D1. In FIG. 5B, the microcatheter 103 may be advanced distally toward the proximal helical section 206 to clamp a hard portion of the blood clot between the distal end 103a of the microcatheter and the proximal helical section 206. As the catheter 103 moves distally, the opening of the proximal helical portion 206 of the stent releaser 202 is folded to clamp the blood clot, and as a result, the proximal end of the blood clot is held by the catheter 103 and the proximal helical section 206. As further shown in FIG. 5B, once the stent releaser 202 exits the microcatheter 103 and is in the clamping configuration, the pull wire 104 can be retracted relative to the stent releaser 202 to expand the stent releaser 202 to the expanded configuration. In the expanded configuration, as the pull wire 204 moves relative to the stent releaser 202, the distal cylindrical section 208 can expand to a second diameter D2. In the expanded configuration, the cylindrical section 208 can engage any soft portion of the blood clot that might otherwise be vulnerable to shearing or breakage upon removal of the device 200. As the pull wire 204 is retracted proximally relative to the stent releaser 202, the diameter D2 of the cylindrical section 208 can expand radially so as to be larger than the diameter D1 of the cylindrical section 208 in the clamping configuration.

[0027] In FIGS. 6A-6C, removal of the blood clot 101 from the blood vessel using the blood clot retrieval device 200 is shown. In FIG. 6A, the device 200 can be advanced across the blood clot 101 as previously described in FIGS. 4A and 4B. As shown in FIG. 6A, when the microcatheter 103 is retracted, the stentriever 202 can expand into a deployed configuration. The struts of the stentriever 202 in the deployed configuration can have a blood clot gripping surface for engaging and holding the blood clot 101 to assist in the removal of the blood clot 101. After the stentriever 202 is in the deployed configuration, as shown in FIG. 6B, the stentriever 202 can be expanded into an expanded configuration. Then, the microcatheter 103 can be advanced to clamp the rigid portion of the blood clot 101a between the microcatheter and the proximal helical section 206 as previously described. After the clamping is achieved, the microcatheter and the device 200 can be retracted toward the retrieval catheter 104 as shown in FIG. 6C. During the retraction of the device 200, the cylindrical section 208 can engage any soft portion of the blood clot 101 that might otherwise be vulnerable to shearing or breakage during removal of the device 200, ensuring that the entire blood clot 101 is removed.

[0028] Other embodiments can include a distal embolic protection system as previously exemplified. The distal embolic protection system 115 can function as an encompassing mechanism to hold these blood clots during removal of the device. The protection system 115 can form a barrier between the blood clot fragment 101b and the distal portion of the blood vessel to prevent the blood clot fragment 101b from re-entering the blood vessel and ensure that the blood clot fragment 101b is removed along with the remaining portion of the blood clot 101. However, it should be noted that this embodiment can capture the floating embolus 101b regardless of the presence or absence of the distal embolic protection system 115.

[0029] FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a method 300 for treating a patient having an occluded blood vessel. The method can include delivering a blood clot engaging framework positioned within a microcatheter (310), using the blood clot engaging framework to deliver a hypo tube that houses an internal distal embolic protection system to the occluded blood vessel (320), deploying the blood clot engaging framework to contact at least a portion of the blood clot (330), passing the hypo tube across the blood clot (340), advancing the microcatheter over a proximal portion of the blood clot engaging framework thereby sandwiching the blood clot (350), deploying the distal embolic protection system (360), and withdrawing the blood clot engaging framework, the distal embolic protection system, and the blood clot from the patient (390).

[0030] In method 300, the blood clot engaging portion can at least partially surround the hypo tube in a helical configuration. Method 300 can further include retracting the blood clot engaging framework and the distal embolic protection system into the microcatheter and removing the blood clot engaging framework, the distal embolic protection system, and the blood clot from the patient. Method 300 can also include simultaneously withdrawing the blood clot, the blood clot engaging framework, and the distal embolic protection system. Method 300 can further include gripping the blood clot against an outer surface of the hypo tube (370). Method 300 can also include capturing blood clot fragments using the distal embolic protection system (380).

[0031] FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a method 400 for treating a patient having an occluded blood vessel. The occlusion may include a blood clot. The method 400 includes delivering a device via a microcatheter, the device having a stent delivery and a pull wire to the occluded blood vessel (410); deploying the stent delivery such that a proximal helical portion of the stent delivery forms a helix and a distal cylindrical portion of the stent delivery forms a cylinder, and contacting at least a portion of the blood clot (420); sandwiching at least a portion of the blood clot by the helical portion of the stent delivery (430); retracting the pull wire to radially expand the cylindrical portion of the stent delivery (440); simultaneously withdrawing the microcatheter and the device from the blood vessel (450); and removing the device, the microcatheter, and the blood clot from the patient (470).

[0032] The step 430 of sandwiching at least a portion of the blood clot with the helical portion may further include moving a first portion of the helical portion proximally toward the microcatheter, thereby folding a second portion of the helical portion and sandwiching the blood clot. The method 400 may further include collecting at least a portion of the blood clot within a distal cone of the stent delivery (460). The step 460 of collecting at least a portion of the blood clot within the distal cone may further include retracting the pull wire to radially expand the distal cone. The method 400 may further include positioning the device such that at least a portion of the helical section surrounds the pull wire.

[0033] The descriptions contained herein are examples of embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention in any way. Modifications apparent to those skilled in the art in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure are intended to be within the scope of the following claims.

[0034] 〔Embodiments〕 (1) A blood clot removal device for removing a blood clot from a body blood vessel, the blood clot removal device comprising: A blood clot engaging framework, wherein the blood clot engaging framework includes a folded delivery configuration, a blood clot engaging deployment configuration, and a blood clot clamping configuration, and at least a part of the blood clot engaging framework is configured to engage with a blood clot in the deployment configuration and clamp the blood clot when moving from the deployment configuration to the blood clot clamping configuration. A blood clot engaging framework. A hypodermic tube including a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end is at least partially surrounded by the blood clot engaging framework proximate to the distal end of the hypodermic tube. A hypodermic tube. A distal plug protection system that is movable from a folded delivery configuration within the hypodermic tube to an expanded deployment configuration distal to the distal end of the hypodermic tube. A blood clot removal device comprising the distal plug protection system. (2) The device according to Embodiment 1, wherein the hypodermic tube further includes an outer surface for gripping the blood clot. (3) The device according to Embodiment 1, wherein at least a part of the blood clot engaging portion surrounds the hypodermic tube in a helical configuration. (4) The device according to Embodiment 1, wherein the hypodermic tube is configured to extend beyond the blood clot. (5) The device according to Embodiment 1, wherein the distal plug protection system in the expanded deployment configuration is sized to move through a retrieval catheter.

[0035] (6) A blood clot removal device for removing a blood clot from a body blood vessel, the blood clot removal device being delivered to the blood vessel via a catheter, the blood clot removal device comprising: A pull wire; A stentriever including a proximal helical section and a distal cylindrical section, wherein the distal cylindrical section is configured to expand from a folded delivery configuration to a clamping configuration and an expanded configuration. A stentriever. In the folded delivery configuration, the stentriever and the pull wire are inside the catheter. In the clamping configuration, a part of the stentriever and the pull wire is outside the catheter, and the stentriever includes a first diameter, In the expanding configuration, a proximal end of the blood clot contacts a distal end of the catheter, and when the pull wire moves relative to the stentriever, the stentriever moves to a second diameter, a blood clot removal device. (7) When the pull wire retracts proximally relative to the stentriever, the diameter of the cylindrical section expands radially so as to be larger than the diameter of the cylindrical section in the clamping configuration, the device according to embodiment 6. (8) The pull wire is fixed to the stentriever adjacent to a distal end of the stentriever, the device according to embodiment 6. (9) At least a part of the helical section surrounds the pull wire, the device according to embodiment 6. (10) A method of treating a patient having an occluded blood vessel, the occlusion including a blood clot, the method comprising: delivering a blood clot engagement framework positioned within a microcatheter; using the blood clot engagement framework to deliver a hypodermic tube having a distal embolic protection system therein to the occluded blood vessel; deploying the blood clot engagement framework to contact at least a part of the blood clot; advancing through the blood clot with the hypodermic tube; advancing the microcatheter over a proximal portion of the blood clot engagement framework, thereby clamping the blood clot; deploying the distal embolic protection system; removing the blood clot engagement framework, the distal embolic protection system, and the blood clot from the patient, a method.

[0036] (11) drawing the blood clot engagement framework and the distal embolic protection system into the microcatheter; The method according to embodiment 10, further comprising the blood clot engaging framework, the distal embolization protection system, and removing the blood clot from the patient. (12) The method according to embodiment 10, further comprising simultaneously withdrawing the blood clot, the blood clot engaging framework, and the distal embolization protection system. (13) The method according to embodiment 10, further comprising gripping the blood clot on the outer surface of the hypodermic tube. (14) The method according to embodiment 10, further comprising capturing blood clot fragments with the distal embolization protection system. (15) The method according to embodiment 10, wherein the blood clot engaging portion at least partially surrounds the hypodermic tube in a helical configuration.

[0037] (16) A method of treating a patient having an occluded blood vessel, the occlusion including a blood clot, the method comprising: delivering a device comprising a stentriever and a pull wire through a microcatheter to the occluded blood vessel; deploying the stentriever such that a proximal helical portion of the stentriever forms a helix and a distal cylindrical portion of the stentriever forms a cylinder, and contacting at least a portion of the blood clot; clamping at least a portion of the blood clot with the helical portion of the stentriever; retracting the pull wire to radially expand the cylindrical portion of the stentriever; simultaneously withdrawing the microcatheter and the device from the blood vessel; and removing the device, the microcatheter, and the blood clot from the patient. (17) The step of clamping at least a portion of the blood clot with the helical portion further comprises moving a first portion of the helical portion proximally toward the microcatheter, thereby folding a second portion of the helical portion and clamping the blood clot, the method according to embodiment 16. The method according to embodiment 16, further comprising collecting at least a portion of the blood clot within the distal cone of the stent retriever. (19) The method according to embodiment 18, further comprising retracting the pull wire to radially expand the distal cone. (20) The method according to embodiment 16, further comprising positioning the device such that at least a portion of the helical section divides the pull wire.

Claims

1. A clot removal device for removing a clot from a body blood vessel, the clot removal device comprising: A clot engagement framework, the clot engagement framework including a folded delivery configuration, a clot engagement deployment configuration, and a clot clamping configuration, at least a portion of the clot engagement framework being configured to engage a clot in the clot engagement deployment configuration and to clamp the clot upon movement from the clot engagement deployment configuration to the clot clamping configuration; a clot engagement framework; A hypodermic tube including a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end being at least partially surrounded by the clot engagement framework proximate the distal end of the hypodermic tube; a hypodermic tube; A distal plug protection system movable from a folded delivery configuration within the hypodermic tube to an expanded deployment configuration distal to the distal end of the hypodermic tube. A clot removal device comprising.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the hypodermic tube further includes an outer surface for gripping the clot.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the clot engagement framework surrounds the hypodermic tube in a helical configuration.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the hypodermic tube is configured to extend beyond the clot.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the distal plug protection system in the expanded deployment configuration is sized to move through a retrieval catheter.

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