Methods and apparatus for treating embolism

摘要

A method and apparatus for treating a clot in the blood vessel of a patient, and particularly the treatment of a pulmonary embolism is disclosed. The treatment includes restoring flow through the clot followed by clot removal, either partially or substantially completely. The clot treatment device is expandable into the blood vessel and may contain radial extensions that assist in restoring flow as well as in removing clot material.

主权项

1. A device for treating a pulmonary embolism that at least partially restricts blood flow through a pulmonary vessel, the device comprising:
an elongated shaft having a proximal region and a distal region; an expandable braid attached to the distal region of the elongated shaft, the braid having a plurality of radially extending portions and at least one cylindrical portion, and the radially extending portions and the cylindrical portion being configured to move from a compressed state sized to fit in a delivery catheter to an expanded state; wherein the cylindrical portion is between a pair of the radially extending portions, and in the expanded state the cylindrical portion is configured to press radially outward against the pulmonary embolism; wherein the radially extending portions extend radially outward from the cylindrical portion in the expanded state such that portions of the pulmonary embolism are retained between the radially extending portions; and wherein the cylindrical portion has a first length along a longitudinal direction of the braid in the expanded state and the radially extending portions have a second length along the longitudinal direction of the braid in the expanded state that is less that the first length.