Method and apparatus for allowing blood flow through an occluded vessel

摘要

A device arranged to sustain and/or provide at least partial patency of a small blood vessel exhibiting an occlusion, the device constituted of a tubular body expandable from a first small diameter state for manipulation to, and through, the occlusion of the small blood vessel and a second large diameter state, the inner dimensions of the second large diameter state being no more than 50% of the diameter of the small blood vessel at the occlusion location, the device presenting a conduit for blood flow through the occlusion when in the large diameter state. In one embodiment the small blood vessel is an intracranial blood vessel.

主权项

1. A method of withdrawing at least a portion of an occlusion away from a target small blood vessel exhibiting an occlusion, the method comprising:
selecting an expandable tubular body having a proximal end and a distal end with a length therebetween; constraining the tubular body in a first small diameter state within a recess of a delivery catheter so that a first member extends along the delivery catheter and is coupled with the proximal end of the tubular body and so that a second member extends along the delivery catheter and is coupled with the distal end of the tubular body; advancing said selected expandable tubular body while constrained by the delivery catheter in said first small diameter state to the occlusion; releasing the tubular body from the delivery catheter within the blood vessel and across the occlusion so that the selected and advanced expandable tubular body expands from the first small diameter to a second large diameter state; at least one of reducing an open cross sectional area of the tubular body within the blood vessel by relative movement of the first and second members which expands the length between said proximal end and said distal end, and enlarging the open cross-sectional area of the tubular body within the blood vessel by relative movement of the first and second members which decreases the length between said proximal end and said distal end; said enlarging comprising contacting the inner walls of a lumen of said blood vessel while exerting a radial force which is small enough so as not to traumatize said walls; and withdrawing, during applying of a non-traumatizing radial force to said inner walls of said lumen, said tubular body from the target small blood vessel to withdraw at least a portion of said occlusion between said walls of said blood vessel and said tubular body without traumatizing said walls.