devices and methods for removing acute obstructions of blood vessels

摘要

The invention relates to a catheter having an expandable tip that can be released into a constricted shape. The increased tip diameter facilitates aspiration and removal of large clot volumes by increasing the area of the catheter tip that applies aspiration to the clot. The tip comprises a support structure which can be cut from a metal or polymer tube, coated with a thin polymer sleeve (909) containing highly elastic properties. This construction provides good expandability and high compressive strength. The cut pattern may contain axial connections of the support structure and the ring members, which will provide a high level of axial support, lateral flexibility and rim resistance to withstand aspiration. The tip of the device may contain a proximal section of the highly flexible area that may expand to exclude the clot. This potential to increase body diameter facilitates the recovery of large clots, while catheter construction provides good spinal stiffness to prevent axial collapse while still maintaining good flexibility.