Patent ID: 7270674

Claim:
An embolic coil retrieval system for capturing an embolic coil in a vessel of the body, said embolic coil retrieval system comprising: a sheath which takes the form of a flexible elongated tube with a lumen extending therethrough, said sheath has a proximal section and a distal section; an embolic coil retriever comprising a cylindrical member having a proximal section, a distal section, and a lumen extending therethrough, said embolic coil retriever also comprising a jaw member including a first jaw, a second jaw, and a third jaw, each jaw takes the form of a longitudinal portion of an elongated tubular member, each jaw has a proximal end, a distal end, a first longitudinal edge, and a second longitudinal edge, said proximal ends of said jaws are attached to the distal section of said cylindrical member, two of said jaws are biased outwardly away from a longitudinal axis of said elongated tubular member, said embolic coil retriever further comprising a plurality of teeth each having a base, each tooth takes the form of a generally triangular member, and said base of each tooth is attached to said jaw member and wherein said longitudinal edges of said first jaw, said second jaw, and said third jaw comprise a pattern of alternating major teeth and minor teeth, the major and minor teeth of one jaw cooperating with the major and teeth of an adjacent jaw to define a plurality of gaps between said major teeth and said minor teeth on said longitudinal edges of said jaws when the jaws are in a closed position; and, an actuator wire having a proximal end and a distal end, said wire is slideably disposed within the lumen of said sheath, and said distal end of said wire is attached to the proximal section of said cylindrical member.