摘要 |
There is disclosed a device for removing chronic total occlusions (CTO) from blood vessels or other body lumens. In one embodiment the device has a loop at a distal end connected by a shaft to a proximal end. The shaft is provided inside a catheter that has an opening at the distal end and a handle at the proximal end. By manipulating the position of the loop relative to the opening, the effective stiffness of the loop may be changed. This allows a physician to vary the loop stiffness so as to be appropriate with regard to the toughness of a CTO (some CTOs have a relatively tough exterior but a relatively soft interior). The loop may have a single turn or may comprise two or more turns.
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