Patent ID: 7854746

Claim:
A retrieval catheter, comprising: a catheter wall defining a catheter lumen and a distal tip that is tapered toward an open distal orifice defining a distal end of the catheter lumen, the wall over the length of the tapered tip configured to distend to expand the distal orifice; and a distender disposed in the catheter lumen and configured to press radially outwardly the catheter wall at the distal tip to expand the distal orifice, the distender having: an annular distender ring, a frusto-conical annular element co-axial with the annular distender ring and positioned proximal thereof with its larger diameter end contiguous therewith, an axial lumen extending through the distender between the annular distender ring and the frusto-conical annular element, a distal end annulus and a proximal end annulus separated by a radially outward-facing circumferential wall, wherein a portion of the circumferential wall is radially inside the frusto-conical annular element and co-axial with the annular distender ring, and a pusher shaft that extends proximally beyond a proximal end of the catheter lumen and that is configured to push the distender distally until the annular distender ring is distal of the catheter distal orifice and the open distal orifice of the catheter is distended.