Systems, methods and devices for removing obstructions from a blood vessel

Abstract

A system for removing an obstruction from a blood vessel includes an obstruction engaging element and an expandable capture element. The capture element preferably has a flexible cover and an expandable support structure. The engaging element engages the obstruction and moves the obstruction into the capture element. The capture element protects the obstruction when the obstruction is moved into the catheter.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A system for removing an obstruction from a blood vessel, comprising: 
 a catheter having a lumen;    an expandable capture element which is contained within the lumen of the catheter, the capture element being slidable within the lumen of the catheter between a collapsed position contained within the lumen and an expanded position in which the capture element is positioned outside the lumen; and    an obstruction engaging device having a filament, the filament being movable from a collapsed position to an expanded position, the obstruction engaging element passing through the catheter.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the expandable capture element is naturally biased toward the expanded position when positioned outside the lumen.    
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein: 
 the expandable capture element has a support structure with a flexible cover attached to the support structure.    
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein: 
 the self-expanding support structure has a closed loop having integrally formed hinges.    
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein: 
 the hinges are V-shaped interconnecting elements.    
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein: 
 the support structure has a plurality of longitudinal struts extending from the loop.    
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the capture element has an expandable loop at the distal end.    
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein: 
 the loop is formed by an eyelet with a control arm extending through the eyelet.    
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the capture element has a flexible cover, the cover having a length which is at least three times an expanded diameter of the capture element.    
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein: 
 the length of the cover is at least five times the expanded diameter of the capture element.    
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the engaging device has 1-4 filaments.    
     
     
         12 . A method of removing an obstruction from a blood vessel comprising the steps of: 
 providing a catheter, an obstruction engaging device and an expandable capture element, the capture element being contained within a lumen of the catheter in a collapsed position, the capture element moving to an expanded position when positioned outside the lumen, the obstruction engaging device having a filament which is movable from a collapsed position to an expanded position;    introducing the catheter into a blood vessel of a patient;    engaging an obstruction with the filament;    expanding the capture element; and    moving the obstruction into the capture element with the engaging device after the engaging and expanding steps.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein: 
 engaging step is carried out with the filament penetrating and ensnaring the obstruction.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein: 
 the expanding step is carried out with the capture element being naturally biased toward the expanded position with a self-expanding support structure.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein: 
 the providing step is carried out with a flexible material attached to the support structure.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein: 
 the providing step is carried out with the self-expanding support structure having a closed loop.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein: 
 the providing step is carried out with the loop being integrally formed.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein: 
 the providing step is carried out with the support structure has a plurality of longitudinal struts.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein: 
 the providing step is carried out with the loop being formed by a number of integrally formed hinges.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein: 
 the providing step is carried out with the hinges being V-shaped elements.    
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein: 
 the obstruction engaging element has 1-4 filaments.    
     
     
         22 . A system for removing an obstruction from a blood vessel, comprising: 
 a catheter having a lumen;    an expandable capture element contained within the lumen of the catheter, the capture element being in a collapsed position when contained within the lumen and being in an expanded position when positioned outside the lumen, the expandable capture element having a support structure forming a closed loop having a plurality of integrally formed hinges; and    an obstruction engaging device which extends through the expandable capture element, the engaging device having a collapsed shape and an expanded shape.    
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein: 
 the capture element has a flexible cover attached to the support structure, the cover having a distal end which is positioned at the loop so that the loop opens the distal end of the cover.    
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein: 
 the support structure has a plurality of longitudinal struts which extend proximally from the loop.    
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein: 
 the struts do not intersect and form a form a conical shape when the capture element is in the expanded.    
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein: 
 the loop has integrally formed hinges.    
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein: 
 the hinges are formed by V-shaped elements.    
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein: 
 the obstruction engaging device has a filament configured to penetrate and engage an obstruction.    
     
     
         29 . A system for removing an obstruction from a blood vessel, comprising: 
 a catheter having a lumen:    an expandable capture element which is contained within the lumen of the catheter, the capture element being slidable within the lumen of the catheter, the capture element having an actuator for manually expanding and contracting the capture element; and    an obstruction engaging device which passes through the capture element.    
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein: 
 the obstruction engaging devices includes a filament for engaging the obstruction.    
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein: 
 the actuator has a control arm and a stable arm, the control arm being manipulated to expand and collapse the capture element.    
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein: 
 the actuator has a loop and a control arm which is manipulated to open and close the loop.    
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein: 
 the capture element everts when moving outside the lumen.    
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein: 
 the actuator includes a tube and a wire extending through the tube.    
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein: 
 the actuator includes at least two wires.    
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein: 
 the actuator includes first and second stabilizing wires and at least one actuating wire.    
     
     
         37 . A catheter for capturing an obstruction, comprising: 
 a catheter having a lumen;    a capture element positioned in the lumen of the catheter, the capture element being expandable, the capture element having an expandable support structure and a cover attached to the support structure, the cover having a length which is at least three times a diameter of the support structure in the expanded position.    
     
     
         38 . The catheter of  claim 37 , wherein: 
 the cover has a length which is at least five times a diameter of the support structure in the expanded position.    
     
     
         39 . A device for removing an obstruction from a blood vessel, comprising: 
 an expandable loop which is movable from a collapsed position to an expanded position;    a cover coupled to the loop, the distal end of the cover being moving from a closed position to an open position when the loop moves from the collapsed to expanded positions; and    a tube having an actuator extending therethrough, the actuator being coupled to the loop so that relative movement between the tube and the actuator causes the loop to move between the expanded and collapsed positions.    
     
     
         40 . The device of  claim 39 , wherein: 
 the tube is positioned outside the cover.    
     
     
         41 . The device of  claim 39 , further comprising: 
 a catheter passing through the cover; and    an obstruction engaging device passing through the catheter.    
     
     
         42 . A device for removing an obstruction from a blood vessel, comprising: 
 a tube;    a support structure movable between a collapsed position and an expanded position, the support structure extending through the tube and being naturally biased toward the expanded position, wherein the support structure expands when moved out of the distal end of the tube and is in the collapsed position when contained within the tube, the support structure being bowed outward;    a cover coupled to the structure, the cover moving from a closed position to an open position when the loop moves from the collapsed position to the expanded position.