Patent ID: 8784442

Claim:
A thrombus removal system for use within the vasculature of a mammal comprising: an elongate tubular flexible member having proximal and distal ends and a lumen extending therethrough; a balloon member having proximal and distal ends, an elongate extended portion positioned adjacent said proximal end and a retrieval portion positioned adjacent said extended portion and said distal end wherein said proximal end of said balloon member is secured to the distal end of said flexible member, an elongate flexible tether member slidably positioned within the lumen of said flexible member and having proximal and distal ends wherein the distal end of said tether member is coupled to the distal end of said balloon member, said balloon member being operable by fluid pressure between a first configuration where said balloon member is collapsed and the distal end of said balloon member is everted and positioned within the lumen of said flexible member proximal to the proximal end of said balloon member and a second configuration where said balloon member is inflated and the distal end of said balloon member is positioned distal to the distal end of said flexible member such that when in said second configuration said extended portion has a longitudinal length and an unconstrained expanded diameter which is generally constant along said longitudinal length and said longitudinal length is substantially greater than said diameter and is positioned distal to the distal end of said flexible member and said retrieval portion is positioned distal to said extended portion and has a diameter which is substantially greater than the diameter of said extended portion and a longitudinal length which is substantially smaller than the longitudinal length of said extended portion.