Patent ID: 7749243

Claim:
An embolus extractor, comprising: an elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; a plurality of primary struts, each strut having a proximal end and a distal end coupled to the distal end of the shaft; the primary struts having a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position, the distal ends and the proximal ends of the primary struts are spaced at a first distance, and in the second position the distal ends and the proximal ends of the struts are spaced at a second distance, the second distance being less than the first distance; wherein in the second position, a proximal portion of the primary struts define a generally circular mouth and the primary struts extend generally distally from the mouth to form a generally distally tapering filter body; and a plurality of secondary struts coupled to the shaft; wherein the secondary struts have a proximal end and a distal end; further wherein the primary struts and the secondary struts are differentiated by at least one of their points of coupling to the distal end of the shaft and their relative strut diameters.