Patent ID: 8088140
Filing Date: 2012-01-03
Classification: A61B,A61F,A61M

Abstract:
1. A method for restoring blood flow in an occluded cerebral blood vessel of a patient during acute ischemic stroke, comprising: accessing an cerebral blood vessel having an occluded zone with a catheter system, the catheter system comprising a microcatheter and an embolus removal device; wherein the embolus removal device comprises a self-expandable member configured to be delivered through the microcatheter in a compressed configuration and deployed to an expanded configuration upon retraction of the microcatheter, wherein the self-expandable member comprises a generally cylindrical body having a cell structure configured to facilitate embolus attachment to the self-expandable member; locating the occluded zone within the artery caused by an embolus; advancing the catheter system to the location of the occluded zone; deploying the self-expandable member to the expanded configuration at the location of the occluded zone by retracting the microcatheter such that the self-expandable member engages and captures the embolus upon deployment of the self-expandable member, wherein the embolus is at least partially engaged and captured on an external surface of the self-expandable member; and removing the embolus by withdrawing the embolus removal device.