Obstruction Removal System

Abstract

An obstruction removal device is described, having one or more engaging members which can engage portions of the clot. The one or more engaging members have a collapsed, delivery state, and an expanded, deployed state.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An obstruction removal device for capturing and removing obstructions from a vascular system comprising:
 a proximal core structure;   a distal bumper structure connected to the proximal core structure; and   a first engaging member mounted to the distal bumper structure.   
     
     
         2 . The obstruction removal device of  claim 1 , wherein the proximal core structure is comprised of a coil and/or a braid. 
     
     
         3 . The obstruction removal device of  claim 1 , wherein the distal bumper structure is composed of a radiopaque material. 
     
     
         4 . The obstruction removal device of  claim 3 , wherein the proximal core structure is composed of a non-radiopaque material. 
     
     
         5 . The obstruction removal device of  claim 1 , wherein the first engaging member can rotate independently of the distal bumper structure. 
     
     
         6 . The obstruction removal device of  claim 1 , wherein the first engaging member can rotate independently of the proximal core structure. 
     
     
         7 . The obstruction removal device of  claim 1 , wherein the first engaging member includes a first opening and a second opening, wherein the first opening is positioned at or near a proximal end of the first engaging member, and wherein the second opening is positioned at or near a distal end of the first engaging member. 
     
     
         8 . The obstruction removal device of  claim 1 , further comprising a second engaging member adjacent to the first engaging member and a link connecting the first engaging member to the second engaging member. 
     
     
         9 . The obstruction removal device of  claim 8 , wherein the first engaging member can rotate independently of the second engaging member. 
     
     
         10 . The obstruction removal device of  claim 1 , wherein the distal bumper structure is comprised of a threaded outer profile, and wherein the first engaging member is rotatably mated to the threaded outer profile of the distal bumper structure. 
     
     
         11 . The obstruction removal device of  claim 1 , wherein the first engaging member is affixed to the distal bumper structure by a heat treatment procedure. 
     
     
         12 . The obstruction removal device of  claim 11 , wherein the first engaging member is welded to the distal bumper structure. 
     
     
         13 . An obstruction removal device for capturing and removing obstructions from a vascular system comprising:
 a proximal core structure;   a distal bumper structure connected to the proximal core structure, wherein the distal bumper structure is composed of a radiopaque material; and   a plurality of engaging members, wherein at least one of the plurality of engaging members is mounted to the distal bumper structure.   
     
     
         14 . The obstruction removal device of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the plurality of engaging members can rotate independently of another of the plurality of engaging members. 
     
     
         15 . The obstruction removal device of  claim 13 , further comprising a plurality of links, wherein each of the plurality of links is connected between one of the plurality of the engaging members and an adjacent engaging member of the plurality of engaging members. 
     
     
         16 . The obstruction removal device of  claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of engaging members is comprised of a first opening at or near a proximal end and a second opening at or near a distal end. 
     
     
         17 . The obstruction removal device of  claim 16 , further comprising a link connected between the second opening of a first engaging member of the plurality of engaging members and the first opening of a second engaging member of the plurality of engaging members. 
     
     
         18 . The obstruction removal device of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the plurality of engaging members can rotate independently of the distal bumper structure. 
     
     
         19 . The obstruction removal device of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the plurality of engaging members can rotate independently of the proximal core structure. 
     
     
         20 . An obstruction removal device for capturing and removing obstructions from a vascular system comprising:
 a proximal core structure, wherein the proximal core structure is composed of a non-radiopaque material;   a distal bumper structure connected to the proximal core structure, wherein the distal bumper structure is composed of a radiopaque material; and   an engaging means for removing a clot mounted to the distal bumper structure.