Patent ID: 7611525

Claim:
A device for retrieval of an intravascular stent from a vessel of a patient, said device comprising: a flexibly resilient central shaft having a tip, and an axial channel for receiving an angioplasty guidewire therein, said central shaft having a diameter sized such that said central shaft is received in a central cavity formed by a tubular body of said stent; balloon support means fixed to and extending from said central shaft and having a free end spaced therefrom, said balloon support means being a generally cylindrical sleeve spaced radially from and surrounding said central shaft and extending axially relative thereto to define an annular recess between said sleeve and said central shaft for receiving said tubular body of said stent; and generally annular inflatable balloon means provided at said free end of said balloon support means and arranged to expand inwardly towards said central shaft upon inflation; whereby in use said device is positioned such that said tubular body of said stent to be retrieved is received in said annular recess, an outer surface of said stent is surrounded by said generally annular balloon means, said tip of said central shaft protrudes through said central cavity of said stent, and said balloon means is subsequently inflated to bear against said outer surface of said stent, thereby to compress said stent and hold said stent between said balloon means and said central shaft, such that said stent and said device can be withdrawn together from the vessel.