Patent ID: 11950795
Assignee: ISCHEMICURE LTD.
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 21:
22. A method of imaging the distal end of a blood clot that is lodged in and obstructing a blood vessel, and of removing the blood clot intact from the blood vessel, the method comprising:
introducing into the vessel proximal to the blood clot a suction catheter defining a lumen therethrough;
introducing through the lumen of the suction catheter an elongate member defining a lumen therethrough and defining one or more perforations at a distal end portion thereof, the elongate body having an inflatable membrane seal mounted to a distal portion thereof, with at least one of the one or more perforations disposed distal to a proximal end of the inflatable membrane seal;
advancing the elongate member until the distal portion thereof is disposed distal to the blood clot;
causing the inflatable membrane seal to expand radially against a portion of an interior wall surface of the blood vessel distal to the blood clot by introducing through the lumen and the at least one perforation a liquid dye;
pressurizing an area of the blood vessel distal to the blood clot and proximal to the portion of the interior wall surface by further introducing through the lumen and the at least one perforation more of the liquid dye;
imaging the liquid dye within the blood vessel distal to the blood clot to identify at least the distal end of the blood clot;
applying suction pressure through the lumen of the catheter to the blood vessel proximal to the blood clot;
dislodging the blood clot from the blood vessel;
moving the blood clot intact toward the suction catheter;
capturing the proximal end of the blood clot with the suction catheter; and
withdrawing the suction catheter from the vessel to remove the blood clot from the vessel intact and unfractured.