Patent Publication Number: US-2022233208-A1

Title: Apparatus, system, and method for vasculature obstruction removal

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/767,852, filed Nov. 15, 2018, and titled “APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR VASCULATURE OBSTRUCTION REMOVAL,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention generally relates to medical devices, and, more particularly, to medical devices for removing vascular obstructions. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Obstruction removal systems/devices may operate by lodging the obstruction in a component of the removal system. In some cases, the obstruction may dislodge. Dislodgement of the obstruction substantially increases the risk for potential complications, such as stroke or heart attack. Thus, it is desirable to secure the obstruction safely for removal from the body. 
     SUMMARY 
     An obstruction removal system is disclosed. In one or more embodiments, the obstruction removal system includes a guide catheter configured to be inserted within a vasculature and a guide wire having a distal end configured to be inserted within the guide catheter and disposed proximate to an obstruction in the vasculature. A stentriever is disposed at a distal end of the guide wire, and the stentriever is configured to engage the obstruction in the vasculature. An expandable member is slidably coupled to the guide wire, and the expandable member is configured to transition between a contracted state and an expanded state. The expandable member is configured to surround at least one portion of the stentriever and the obstruction as the expandable member transitions from the expanded state to the contracted state, i.e., when the guide wire is removed from the vasculature to remove the stentriever and the obstruction from the vasculature. A first locking member is located at a base of the expandable member. The first locking member is configured to engage a second locking member that is located on the guide wire, the stentriever, or an inner surface of the guide catheter, thereby coupling the expandable member to the guide wire, the stentriever, or the inner surface of the guide catheter when the expandable member is deployed within the vasculature. 
     More generally, an obstruction removal device is disclosed. In one or more embodiments, the obstruction removal device includes an expandable member configured to be slidably coupled to a guide wire. The expandable member is configured to transition between a contracted state and an expanded state. The expandable member is further configured to surround at least one portion of a stentriever and an obstruction as the expandable member transitions from the expanded state to the contracted state, i.e., when the guide wire is removed from a vasculature to remove the stentriever and the obstruction from the vasculature. A first locking member is located at a base of the expandable member. The first locking member is configured to engage a second locking member that is located on the guide wire, the stentriever, or an inner surface of a guide catheter, thereby coupling the expandable member to the guide wire, the stentriever, or the inner surface of the guide catheter when the expandable member is deployed within the vasculature. 
     A method for removing an obstruction from a vasculature is also disclosed. In one or more embodiments, the method includes the steps of: inserting a guide catheter within a vasculature; extending a guide wire through the guide catheter so that a distal end of the guide wire is disposed proximate to the obstruction in the vasculature; engaging at least one portion of the obstruction in the vasculature with a stentriever disposed at the distal end of the guide wire; sliding an expandable member along the guide wire until a first locking member at a base of the expandable member engages a second locking member on the guide wire, the stentriever, or an inner surface of the guide catheter, thereby coupling the expandable member to the guide wire, the stentriever, or the inner surface of the guide catheter, the expandable member being configured to transition between a contracted state and an expanded state; and removing the guide wire from the vasculature to remove the stentriever and the obstruction from the vasculature, wherein the expandable member is configured to surround at least one portion of the stentriever and the obstruction as the expandable member transitions from the expanded state to the contracted state when the guide wire is removed from the vasculature to remove the stentriever and the obstruction from the vasculature. 
     This Summary is provided solely as an introduction to subject matter that is fully described in the Detailed Description and Drawings. The Summary should not be considered to describe essential features nor be used to determine the scope of the Claims. Moreover, it is to be understood that both the foregoing Summary and the following Detailed Description are example and explanatory only and are not necessarily restrictive of the subject matter claimed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanying figures. The use of the same reference numbers in different instances in the description and the figures may indicate similar or identical items. Various embodiments or examples (“examples”) of the present disclosure are disclosed in the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. The drawings are not necessarily to scale. In general, operations of disclosed processes may be performed in an arbitrary order, unless otherwise provided in the claims. 
         FIG. 1A  illustrates a cross-sectional side view of a guide catheter of an obstruction removal system deployed within a vasculature, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 1B  illustrates a cross-sectional side view of an expandable member of the obstruction removal system deployed through the guide catheter, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 1C  illustrates a cross-sectional side view of the expandable member of the obstruction removal system deployed through the guide catheter until a base member of the expandable member reaches one or more guide stops, wherein the expandable member is pushed through the guide catheter by a delivery wire/tube, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 1D  illustrates a cross-sectional side view of the expandable member of the obstruction removal system deployed through the guide catheter until a base member of the expandable member reaches one or more guide stops, wherein the delivery wire/tube has been removed, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 1E  illustrates a cross-sectional side view of a stentriever of the obstruction removal system deployed through the guide catheter, wherein the stentriever is attached to a guide wire that is fed through the guide catheter using a microcatheter, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 1F  illustrates a cross-sectional side view of the stentriever of the obstruction removal system deployed through the guide catheter, wherein the stentriever attached to the guide wire is fed through the guide catheter and the expandable member using the microcatheter, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 1G  illustrates a cross-sectional side view of the stentriever of the obstruction removal system deployed within the vasculature, wherein the microcatheter is pulled back to unsheathe the stentriever so that the stentriever can engage an obstruction in the vasculature, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 1H  illustrates a cross-sectional side view of the stentriever of the obstruction removal system being pulled back through the guide catheter to remove the obstruction from the vasculature, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 1I  illustrates a cross-sectional side view of the stentriever of the obstruction removal system being pulled back through the guide catheter to remove the obstruction from the vasculature, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 1J  illustrates a cross-sectional side view of the expandable member of the obstruction removal system being pulled back through the guide catheter with the stentriever, wherein the expandable member transitions to a contracted state and surrounds at least a portion of the obstruction as the expandable member is pulled into the guide catheter, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 1K  illustrates a cross-sectional end view of a guide catheter with a microcatheter inserted within the guide catheter and a guide wire inserted within the microcatheter, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 1L  illustrates a cross-sectional end view of a guide catheter with guide stops attached to an inner surface of the guide catheter, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2A  illustrates a cross-sectional side view of a guide catheter of an obstruction removal system deployed within a vasculature, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2B  illustrates a cross-sectional side view of a stentriever of the obstruction removal system deployed through the guide catheter, wherein the stentriever is attached to a guide wire that is fed through the guide catheter using a microcatheter, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2C  illustrates a cross-sectional side view of the stentriever of the obstruction removal system deployed within the vasculature, wherein the microcatheter is pulled back to unsheathe the stentriever so that the stentriever can engage an obstruction in the vasculature, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2D  illustrates a cross-sectional side view of an expandable member of the obstruction removal system deployed through the guide catheter, wherein the expandable member is slidably coupled to the guide wire and pushed through the guide catheter using a microcatheter, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2E  illustrates a cross-sectional side view of the expandable member of the obstruction removal system deployed within the vasculature after being pushed through the guide catheter, wherein a first locking member at the base of the expandable member is mated with a second locking member on the guide wire and/or stentriever, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2F  illustrates a cross-sectional side view of the stentriever of the obstruction removal system being pulled back through the guide catheter to remove the obstruction from the vasculature, wherein the expandable member is inverted as the stentriever is pulled towards and/or into the guide catheter, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2G  illustrates a cross-sectional side view of the stentriever of the obstruction removal system being pulled back through the guide catheter to remove the obstruction from the vasculature, wherein the obstruction is at least partially surrounded by the inverted expandable member, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2H  illustrates a cross-sectional side view of the expandable member of the obstruction removal system being pulled back through the guide catheter with the stentriever, wherein the expandable member transitions to a contracted state and surrounds at least a portion of the obstruction as the expandable member is pulled into the guide catheter, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2I  illustrates a cross-sectional side view of the stentriever of the obstruction removal system deployed within the vasculature, wherein the second locking member is on the guide wire at a distance from the stentriever, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3A  illustrates the expandable member being loaded onto the guide wire for deployment through the guide catheter, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3B  illustrates the expandable member loaded onto the guide wire for deployment through the guide catheter, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3C  illustrates the expandable member loaded onto the guide wire for deployment through the guide catheter, wherein the expandable member is pushed along the guide wire by a microcatheter, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3D  illustrates the expandable member loaded onto the guide wire for deployment through the guide catheter, wherein the expandable member is pushed along the guide wire by a microcatheter, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the subject matter disclosed, which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Referring generally to  FIGS. 1A through 9 , an obstruction removal system is described, in particular, an obstruction removal system configured to selectively deploy an expandable member in a vasculature to reduce the risks associated with removal of an obstruction. The expandable member may be used to prevent an obstruction from dislodging from a stentriever and passing to a potentially more dangerous area (e.g. causing a total blockage, blocking a portion of a vital vasculature, etc.). In this regard, a physician may determine whether an obstruction is prone to risk and selectively deploy the expandable member. Furthermore, the physician may deploy the expandable member at various locations away from the obstruction (e.g., clot), as needed. 
     In embodiments, the obstruction removal system comprises a guide catheter, a guide wire, an expandable member, and first and second locking members. The first locking member may be attached to the base of the expandable member, such that translation of the expandable member results in translation of the first locking member. The first locking member may be further configured to engage the second locking member. In this regard, the expandable member may be fixed to the second locking member by the first locking member. 
     The expandable member may be inserted within the guide catheter by a guide wire and/or microcatheter and disposed proximate to an obstruction in the vasculature. The guide wire and/or microcatheter may be further configured to engage the first locking member to the second locking member. 
     The expandable member may be configured to transition between one or more positions, such as, a contracted state and an expanded state. The expanded state may allow the expandable member to surround a portion of at least one of the stentriever and/or the obstruction. The contracted state may be suitable for insertion and removal of the expandable member through the guide catheter and/or a microcatheter. In this regard, when the expandable member is in the collapsed/contracted state after surrounding at least a portion of the stentriever and/or the obstruction, the expandable member, and the stentriever may be withdrawn through the guide catheter and/or the microcatheter. 
     Benefits for surrounding a portion of the stentriever or the obstruction in an expandable member may include, but are not limited to, smaller cross-sectional area, reduced friction on a vessel wall, reduced likelihood of catching on an opening of the guide catheter, reduced likelihood of catching on an opening of a microcatheter, and reduced likelihood of obstruction dislodgement. 
     The expandable member is configured to transition between the one or more positions (e.g. contracted state and collapsed position) in any suitable way, including, but not limited to, internal stresses, friction, material properties, wires attached to the expandable member, hooks to grab on to/make contact with a portion of a vessel wall, or a mating surface between the first locking member and the second locking member. 
     In some embodiments, the first locking member may be configured to disengage from the second locking member when the delivery system is removed from the vasculature. In this regard, the disengagement of the first locking member from the second locking member may be used to remove the stentriever and obstruction from the vasculature. The ability to disengage the first and second locking member may allow reuse of the guide wire, the stentriever, the expandable member, the guide catheter, and/or the microcatheter. The first and second locking member may engage by any suitable means, including but not limited to, guide stops, snap-fit connectors, cooperatively threaded connectors, magnetic connectors, or the like. 
     In embodiments, the second locking member may be attached in several locations, including, but not limited to, the stentriever, the guide wire, or an inner surface of the guide catheter. In this regard, after the first and second locking member engage, the first and second locking member will be fixed relative to the stentriever, the guide wire, or the guide catheter. 
     It is to be understood that the first and second locking member may be configured to engage at various points during the removal of the obstruction from the vasculature. For example, the first and second locking member may engage before or after the stentriever engages the obstruction. The order of engagement listed is not intended to be limiting. 
       FIGS. 1A through 1K  illustrate one or more embodiments of an obstruction removal system  100 . As shown in  FIG. 1A , the obstruction removal system  100  includes a guide catheter  106  configured to be inserted through a vasculature to a position proximate to an obstruction  108 . The obstruction removal system  100  may include guide stops  104  attached (e.g., mounted) to or formed on an inner surface of the guide catheter  106 , at or near a distal end of the guide catheter (e.g. near an opening of the guide catheter). 
     As shown in  FIG. 1B , the obstruction removal system  100  further includes an expandable member  110 . In a contracted state, the expandable member  110  is configured to be inserted through the guide catheter and out of a distal opening of the guide catheter  106 . When the expandable member  110  is in the contracted state, the expandable member may fit through the guide stops  104 . 
       FIG. 1C  further illustrates the expandable member  110  deployed out of the distal opening of the guide catheter  106 , where a base member  112  attached to the expandable member  110  is pushed up against, mated with, or otherwise engaged with the guide stops  104 . A delivery tool  120  (e.g., a delivery wire or delivery tube) may be used to push the expandable member  110  through the guide catheter  106 . In some embodiments, the delivery tool  120  may include an end-mounted support member  121  configured to support the expandable member  110  as the expandable member  110  is pushed through the guide catheter  106 .  FIG. 1D  further illustrates the expandable member  110  transitioned to an expanded state. The delivery tool  120  can then be removed from the vasculature. 
     It is to be understood that the use of guide stops  104  on an inner portion of a guide catheter  106  may be suitable to allow a physician to selectively position the expandable member  110  at an appropriate distance from an obstruction  108  by translating some portion of the guide catheter  106  and/or the delivery tool  120 . When positioning the guide catheter  106  and the expandable member  110 , the physician may account for such things as vasculature geometry, obstruction size, blood pressure, blood flow direction, or vasculature tissue strength. For example, it may be undesirable to deploy the expandable member  110  near the obstruction location (e.g. due to a complex vasculature structure) but may still be desirable to use the expandable member  110  (e.g. to reduce likelihood of separation of the obstruction  108  from a stentriever). In this example, the expandable member  110  may be deployed away from the obstruction  108  and still retain the benefit of reducing complications due to obstruction dislodgement. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1E , the obstruction removal system  100  may further include a stentriever  118  configured to be inserted through the guide catheter  106 . For example, the stentriever  118  may be coupled or formed on/near a distal end of a guide wire  116  configured to be inserted through the guide catheter  106 . In embodiments, the stentriever  118  may be housed within a microcatheter  114  (e.g., any suitable microcatheter or tube). The microcatheter  114  may be used to contain the stentriever  118  and keep the stentriever  118  from expanding within the guide catheter  106 . This may provide one or more advantages, such as, but not limited to, reducing friction between the stentriever  118  and the guide catheter  106 , permitting the stentriever  118  to be inserted through the base member  112  and/or the distal opening of the guide catheter  106 , and preventing the stentriever  118  from prematurely engaging with the expandable member  110 . 
       FIG. 1F  illustrates the stentriever  118 , microcatheter  114 , and guide wire  116  inserted through the base member  112 , the expandable member  110 , and the distal opening of the guide catheter  106 . The stentriever  118  is attached to the guide wire  116 , so that translation of the guide wire  116  results in translation of the stentriever  118 . 
       FIG. 1G  illustrates the stentriever  118  after the stentriever  118  has been deployed out of a distal end of the microcatheter  114  and at least partially engaging the obstruction  108 . It is to be understood that there may be one or more methods for engaging the obstruction  108  with the stentriever  118 . For example, the microcatheter  114  may be deployed through/alongside of the obstruction  108 , with the stentriever  118  contained within the microcatheter  114 . The microcatheter  114  may then be withdrawn, permitting the stentriever  118  to expand and engage the obstruction  108 . 
       FIGS. 1H and 1I  illustrate the guide wire  116  withdrawing the stentriever  118  (and the obstruction  108 ) towards the expandable member  110 . The expandable member  110  may be configured in an expanded state, such that the expandable member  110  may surround at least a portion of the obstruction  108  and/or stentriever  118  as the stentriever  118  and the obstruction  108  are pulled into the guide catheter  106 . As the guide wire  116  is withdrawn and removed from the vasculature, the expandable member  110  may transition from the expanded state to a contracted/collapsed state, thereby causing the expandable member  110  to at least partially surround and clench the obstruction  108  so that the obstruction  108  can be safely removed from the vasculature. 
       FIG. 1J  illustrates the expandable member  110  withdrawn into the guide catheter  106  in a collapsed position. In some embodiments, the base member  112  may be configured to disengage from the guide stops  104 . The guide wire  116  with the stentriever  118 , obstruction  108 , and expandable member  110  may be withdrawn through the microcatheter  114 , as depicted in  FIG. 1J . Alternatively, the guide wire  116  with the stentriever  118 , obstruction  108 , and expandable member  110  may be pulled directly through the guide catheter  106 . 
       FIG. 1K  illustrates a cross-sectional end view of an obstruction removal system, where a guide wire  116  is inserted through a microcatheter  114  and a guide catheter  106 , and  FIG. 1L  illustrates a cross-sectional end view of a guide catheter  106  with guide stops  104  (e.g., one or more protrusions or a ring) attached to an inner surface of the guide catheter  106 . The guide stops  104  depicted are not intended to be limiting, but are merely to provide an example of a method/means for engaging a base member. The guide stops  104  may be configured to engage with a base member  112  attached to an expandable member  110  (e.g. by taking up a portion of the cross-sectional area of the guide catheter  106 ). Additionally, the guide stops may be configured to take up a minimal cross-sectional area of the guide catheter  106 , in order to allow injection of radioactive dye. In some embodiments, the guide stops  104  may be further configured to mate with the expandable member  110  to temporarily lock it in place at the distal end of the guide catheter  106 . 
       FIGS. 2A through 2I  illustrate one or more additional embodiments of the obstruction removal system  100 . As shown in  FIG. 2A , the guide catheter  106  is configured to be inserted through a vasculature to a position proximate to an obstruction  108 .  FIG. 2B  illustrates a stentriever  118  inserted through the guide catheter  106  and out of a distal end of the guide catheter  106 , such that the stentriever  118  is in a position proximate to the obstruction  108 . In embodiments, the stentriever  118  may be at least partially housed within a microcatheter  114 . The stentriever  118  is attached to a distal end of a guide wire  116 , such that translation of the guide wire  116  results in translation of the stentriever  118 . 
       FIG. 2C  illustrates the stentriever  118  after the stentriever  118  has been deployed out of a distal end of the microcatheter  114  and at least partially engaging the obstruction  108 . In  FIG. 2C , the microcatheter  114  has been withdrawn through the guide catheter  106 . A locking member  202  is located at a position proximate to a base of the stentriever  118 , such as, but not limited to, at the base of the stentriever  118 , on the guide wire  116  near the base of the stentriever, or some combination of the two. As shown in  FIG. 2D , another locking member  204  is located at a base of the expandable member  204 . 
       FIG. 2D  illustrates an expandable member  110  being pushed the guide catheter  106  into the vasculature. The expandable member  110  may be slid along the guide wire  116 , through the guide catheter  106 , by the microcatheter  114 . The expandable member  110  is slidably coupled to the guide wire  116  (i.e., configured to slide along the guide wire  116 ). The microcatheter  114  may be configured to slide the expandable member  110  along the guide wire  116  until locking member  204  engages (e.g., mates with) locking member  202 . 
     The expandable member  110  may be inserted through the guide catheter  106  in a first configuration that permits the expandable member  110  to be housed within the microcatheter  114  while the expandable member is inserted through the guide catheter  106 . In this regard, the expandable member  110  may not expand from the first configuration until the microcatheter  114  is withdrawn. Alternatively, the first configuration of the expandable member  110  may permit the expandable member  110  to surround a distal portion of the microcatheter  114 . In such cases, the expandable member  110  may expand outwardly when the expandable member  110  is no longer housed within the guide catheter  106 . 
       FIG. 2E  illustrates locking member  204  engaged (e.g., mated) with locking member  202  to form a coupling  200  that secures the expandable member  110  to the stentriever  118  and/or a portion of the guide wire near the stentriever  118 . In this regard, the stentriever  118  and the expandable member  110  can be moved together by translating the guide wire  116 . Additionally, the obstruction  108  can be pulled towards and/or into the guide catheter  106  by withdrawing the guide wire  116 . 
     In  FIG. 2E , the microcatheter  114  has been withdrawn into the guide catheter  106 . In some embodiments, the microcatheter  114  may remain at a position proximate to locking member  204 . In other embodiments, the microcatheter  114  may be withdrawn into the guide catheter  106  after locking member  204  engages locking member  202 . In other embodiments, the microcatheter  114  may be withdrawn out of the vasculature. 
       FIG. 2F  illustrates the guide wire  116  withdrawing the stentriever  118 , the obstruction  108 , and a portion of the expandable member  110  towards a distal opening of the guide catheter  106 . As the portion of the expandable member  110  is withdrawn, the expandable member inverts from the first configuration to a second configuration. The inversion of the expandable member may occur due to a frictional force between the expandable member  110  and the vessel wall  102 . As the expandable member  110  inverts from the first configuration to the second configuration, an inner portion of the expandable member  110  near the locking member  204  may translate while an outer portion of the expandable member  110  near the vessel wall  102  may remain stationary (or translate at a speed less than the inner portion). 
     After transitioning from the first configuration to the second configuration, the expandable member  110  is configured to surround at least a portion of the obstruction  108  and/or the stentriever  118 .  FIG. 2G  illustrates the expandable member  110  after the expandable member  110  has inverted from the first configuration to the second configuration and surrounded at least a portion of the stentriever  118  and/or the obstruction  108 . Surrounding the obstruction  108  with the expandable member  110  may prevent dislodgement of the obstruction  108  during removal. 
       FIG. 2H  illustrates the expandable member  110 , obstruction  108 , and stentriever  118  at least partially withdrawn into the guide catheter  106 . In some embodiments, such as the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2H , the guide wire  116  with the expandable member  110 , stentriever  118 , and obstruction  108  may be further withdrawn into the microcatheter  114  during removal. Alternatively, the guide wire  116  with the expandable member  110 , stentriever  118 , and obstruction  108  can be pulled directly through the guide catheter  106 . 
       FIG. 2I  illustrates an embodiment of the obstruction removal system  100 , where locking member  202  is located on the guide wire  116  at a distance from the stentriever  118 . This configuration may be advantageous in situations where a patient&#39;s vasculature structure limits deployment of the expandable member  110 , locking member  204 , and/or guide catheter  106 . In this regard, a physician may have a set of guide wire and stents, where the set of guide wires has receiving members housed at various lengths from the stents (e.g. 25 mm, 50 mm, 75 mm, 100 mm, etc.). The set of guide wires may allow the physician to select an appropriate guide wire for the patient, based on criteria such as patient vasculature structure or the size of the obstruction. 
       FIGS. 3A through 3D  illustrate the manner by which the expandable member  110 , as described with reference to  FIGS. 2A through 2I , can be inserted into and deployed through the guide catheter  106 . For example,  FIGS. 3A and 3B  illustrate the expandable member  110  being loaded onto the guide wire  116  for deployment through the guide catheter  106 .  FIGS. 3C and 3D  then illustrates the expandable member  110  being pushed along the guide wire  116  by the microcatheter  114 . In this manner the expandable member  110  can be fed through the guide catheter  106 , into the vasculature  102 , and positioned proximate to and/or in contact with the stentriever  118  as previously discussed herein with reference to  FIGS. 2D and 2E . 
     Referring generally to embodiments of the obstruction removal system  100  disclosed herein, the expandable member  110  may be configured to transition between a first configuration and a second configuration, or between a contracted state and an expanded state, in any number of ways, including, but not limited to, unsheathing (e.g., withdrawal of the microcatheter  114  or extension through the guide catheter  106 ), disengagement of locking members (e.g., wires, hooks, etc.) attached to the expandable member  110 , use of shape memory alloys (e.g., Nitinol), or the like. It is envisioned that when the expandable member is in an expanded state, the expandable member may take up a substantial portion of the cross-section of the vasculature or the vessel wall  102 . 
     In embodiments, the expandable member  110 , the obstruction  108 , and the stentriever  118  are withdrawn into the guide catheter  106  and removed from the vasculature. In some embodiments, the expandable member  110 , the obstruction  108 , and the stentriever  118  may be further withdrawn into the microcatheter  114 . The expandable member  110  may surround at least a portion of the obstruction  108  to prevent dislodging and may also assist in compressing the obstruction  108  into the guide catheter  106  and/or the microcatheter  114  (e.g. by tension, cinching, crimping, etc.). 
     In some embodiments, an expandable member  110  may further include one or more features including, but not limited to, hooks. The hooks may attach to or make abrasive contact with a vessel wall when the expandable member  110  is in the expanded state; the hooks may also hold a portion of the obstruction  108  when the expandable member  110  at least partially surrounds the obstruction  108  prior to its removal. 
     Surrounding at least a portion of the obstruction  108  and/or stentriever  118  by the expandable member  110  may serve several functions including, but not limited to, reducing a likelihood that the stentriever  118  snags (e.g. on a vessel wall  102  or an opening of the guide catheter  106 ), reducing a profile of the obstruction  108  for removal through the guide catheter  106  and/or microcatheter  114 , and/or securing the obstruction  108  to prevent dislodgement from the stentriever  118 . 
     In embodiments, the expandable member  110  may comprise a wire mesh. Such a wire mesh may include wires made of a flexible material (e.g. nitinol, cobalt chromium, polymer mesh, or the like), where the wires (e.g. 16 to 288 or more wires), have a certain diameter (e.g. from 0.0007 inches to 0.0050 inches), and have certain material properties (e.g. strength, coefficient of friction with blood, resistance to plastic deformation, etc.) suitable for engaging the obstruction  108  and/or the stentriever  118 . Furthermore, the wire mesh may include various sets of wires (e.g. support wires with larger diameters, wires to engage a vessel wall, wires to engage a portion of the obstruction or stentriever, radiopaque or radiodense wires, etc.). 
     Any number of the presently disclosed elements may be suitable for imaging by a non-invasive imaging technology (e.g. X-ray, CT scans, etc.). For instance, the guide catheter  106 , guide wire  116 , microcatheter  114 , expandable member  110 , stentriever  118 , guide stops  104 , base member  112 , locking member  204 , locking member  202 , and/or any additional components may comprise radiodense or radiopaque material (e.g. titanium, tungsten, barium sulfate, or zirconium oxide) suitable for insertion in a human body. 
     It is to be understood that any number of components of the obstruction removal system  100  may be attached by any suitable means including, but not limited to, welding, adhesive, mechanical fastening, interference fittings, etc. For example, the base member  112  or locking member  204  may be attached to the expandable member  110  by such means. Alternatively, or additionally, two or more of the components may be portions of a common structure (e.g., a common mold or print). 
     In some embodiments, the expandable member  110  is temporarily attached to the microcatheter  114 . For example, the expandable member  110  may be configured to detach from the microcatheter  114  after locking member  204  engages locking member  202  or after base member  112  engages the one or more guide stops  104 . 
     The locking members  202  and  204  and/or the base member  112  and guide stop(s)  104  may be configured to selectively engage and disengage. It is envisioned that the ability to selectively engage and disengage may provide advantages. For example, the ability to selectively disengage may allow for reusability of one or more of the components (e.g. expandable member  110 , microcatheter  114 , guide catheter  106 , etc.). By way of another example, the ability to engage and disengage may provide increased functionality when inserting and removing components through the guide catheter  106  (e.g. fewer components translating through the guide catheter  106  at the same time). 
     It is envisioned that there may be multiple orders in which one or more devices of the obstruction removal system  100  are deployed. Factors for determining an order may include, but are not limited to, vasculature properties (e.g. vasculature size, vasculature geometries, branches of the vasculature, vasculature wall strength, etc.), blood pressure, blood flow direction, duration of operation (i.e. does patient require a reduced operating time for safety concerns), size of obstruction, or the configuration of the obstruction removal device. 
     Referring generally to  FIGS. 1A through 1K , a method of removing an obstruction from a vasculature may include, but is not limited to, the steps of: deploying the guide catheter  106  through the patient&#39;s vasculature to a position near the obstruction  108 , where the guide catheter  106  includes one or more guide stops  104  on an inner surface at the distal end of the guide catheter  106 ; inserting the expandable member  110  through the guide catheter  106  and (with a delivery tool  120 ) pushing the expandable member  110  up to the distal end of the guide catheter  106 , so that a base member  112  attached to the expandable member  110  engages the guide stops  104 ; inserting the stentriever  118  attached to guide wire  116  within a microcatheter  114  and feeding the stentriever  118  through the guide catheter  106  using the microcatheter  114 ; deploying the stentriever  118  and the microcatheter  114  through the guide catheter  106 , guide stops  104 , and expandable member  110  up to the obstruction  108 ; withdrawing the microcatheter  114  to unsheathe the stentriever  118  to engage the obstruction  108  with the stentriever  118 ; withdrawing the stentriever  118  and the obstruction  108  by withdrawing (e.g., pulling) the guide wire  116 , where the expandable member  110  surrounds at least a portion of the obstruction  108  and/or the stentriever  118  and transitions from an expanded state to a contracted state as the guide wire  116  with the stentriever  118  and obstruction  108  are pulled through the guide catheter  106  and removed from the vasculature. 
     Referring generally to  FIGS. 2A through 2I , a method of removing an obstruction from a vasculature may include, but is not limited to, the steps of: deploying the guide catheter  106  through the patient&#39;s vasculature to a position near the obstruction  108 ; deploy the stentriever  118  in a microcatheter  114  through the guide catheter  106 , out of a distal end of the guide catheter  106 , and to a position proximate to the obstruction  108 ; pushing the microcatheter  114  and the stentriever  118  through/around the obstruction  108 ; withdraw the microcatheter  114  from the vasculature to unsheathe the stentriever  118  so that the stentriever  118  engages the obstruction  108 ; sliding the expandable member  110  onto the guide wire  116 ; sliding the expandable member  110  along the guide wire  116  through the guide catheter  106  using the microcatheter  114  to push the expandable member  110  until locking member  204  at the base of the expandable member  110  engages locking member  202  on the guide wire  116 , the stentriever  118 , or an inner surface of the guide catheter  106 , thereby coupling the expandable member  110  to the guide wire  116 , the stentriever  118 , or the inner surface of the guide catheter  106 ; and removing the guide wire  116  from the vasculature to remove the stentriever  118  and the obstruction  108  from the vasculature, causing the expandable member  110  to surround at least one portion of the stentriever  118  and/or the obstruction  108  as the expandable member  110  inverts and transitions from an expanded state to a contracted state when the guide wire  116  is removed from the vasculature to remove the stentriever  118  and the obstruction  108  from the vasculature. 
     It is to be understood that implementations of the methods disclosed herein may include one or more of the steps described herein. Further, such steps may be carried out in any desired order and, in some implementations, two or more of the steps may be carried out simultaneously with one another. Two or more of the steps disclosed herein may be combined in a single step, and in some implementations., one or more of the steps may be carried out as two or more sub-steps. Further, other steps or sub-steps may be carried in addition to, or as substitutes to one or more of the steps disclosed herein. 
     It is also to be understood that usage of terminology in the present disclosure is not intended to be limiting. For example, as used herein, an “obstruction” may refer to any vascular obstruction, including but not limited to, a blood clot, plaque (e.g. fat, cholesterol, etc.), internal structure/growth, foreign object, or the like. 
     Although the technology has been described with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the attached drawing figures, equivalents may be employed and substitutions made herein without departing from the scope of the technology as recited in the claims. Components illustrated and described herein are merely examples of a device and components that may be used to implement the embodiments of the present invention and may be replaced with other devices and components without departing from the scope of the invention. Furthermore, any dimensions, degrees, and/or numerical ranges provided herein are to be understood as non-limiting examples unless otherwise specified in the claims.