Patent ID: 8425549

Claim:
A catheter system comprising; a guide catheter; an embolectomy catheter comprising; an outer shaft characterized by a proximal end and a distal end, said outer shaft having a first lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end thereof, said lumen having a first diameter; an inner, distal shaft characterized by a proximal end and a distal end, said inner, distal shaft disposed within the outer shaft, said inner, distal shaft having a second lumen having a second diameter, said second lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end of said inner, distal shaft, and a constriction disposed within said second lumen of the inner distal shaft; an expandable member characterized by a proximal end and a distal end, said expandable member secured at its proximal end to the distal end of the outer shaft and secured at its distal end to the distal end of the inner, distal shaft; wherein the expandable member is expanded and contracted by relative movement of the outer shaft and the inner, distal shaft, and wherein the constriction is characterized by an inner diameter which is less than the second diameter of the lumen of the inner distal shaft.