Patent ID: 6436112
Filing Date: 2002-08-20
Classification: A61B,A61F

Abstract:
A method of removing an obstruction in a blood vessel comprising:advancing a catheter through an obstruction, the catheter having a lumen; positioning an obstruction retriever within the lumen of the catheter, the obstruction retriever having an obstruction engaging portion extending from an insertion element, the obstruction engaging portion being an elongate element which extends from the insertion element to a free end, the elongate element forming a coiled section, the coiled section having coils which increase in size as they extend distally from a proximal end of the coils section, the obstruction engaging portion being movable between a collapsed position and an expanded position and being in the collapsed position when positioned in the lumen and being naturally biased toward the expanded position when positioned outside the lumen; moving the obstruction engaging portion into engagement with the obstruction; and removing the obstruction.