Endovascular apparatus with enhanced retrievability and related methods

Abstract

An endovascular apparatus takes the form of an expandable tubular body having a retriever, which may include a pair of interconnected hooks. The retriever may be formed from a single piece of material forming the tubular body, and in the case of a pair of hooks thus has a thickness corresponding to approximately twice the wall thickness of the tubular body. The innermost radial portion of the hooks may be offset from a central axis of a lumen formed by the tubular body, which facilitates free insertion of a balloon or the like for purposes of expanding the tubular body. Related methods of manufacturing an endovascular apparatus with a retriever are also described herein.

1 . An endovascular apparatus adapted for retrieval using a snare, comprising:
 a body having a wall forming a lumen, the wall comprising a material having a thickness, and further having a pair of interconnected hooks, each hook of the pair of hooks having a first longitudinal portion extending from and unitarily formed with the wall and a second portion connected to the longitudinal portion, the second portions of the interconnected hooks together forming a receiver adapted to receive the snare, each hook being formed of the material of the wall having the thickness.   
     
     
         2 . The endovascular apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the pair of hooks are at least partially connected together by a bond. 
     
     
         3 . The endovascular apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the bond comprises a weld. 
     
     
         4 . The endovascular apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the pair of interconnected hooks include a radially innermost portion offset from a central axis of the body. 
     
     
         5 . The endovascular apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first longitudinal portion of each hook is partially twisted and the second portion projects radially inward from the first elongated portion. 
     
     
         6 . The endovascular apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the body includes an elongated spine connected to the pair of interconnected hooks as a single unitary structure. 
     
     
         7 . The endovascular apparatus of  claim 1 , selected from the group comprising a stent, a filter, and a plug. 
     
     
         8 . An endovascular apparatus, comprising:
 a body having a wall forming a lumen and a hook having a radially innermost portion offset from a central axis of the lumen.   
     
     
         9 . The endovascular apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the hook comprises a pair of hook portions formed of a single thickness of the wall and connected together by a bond. 
     
     
         10 . The endovascular apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the body includes an elongated spine connected to the hook. 
     
     
         11 . An endovascular apparatus, comprising:
 a body comprising a wall with a thickness and forming a lumen, the body having a retriever formed of a double wall thickness of a single piece of material forming the body.   
     
     
         12 . The endovascular apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the retriever comprises a pair of J-shaped hooks bonded together and having an open end facing in a distal direction. 
     
     
         13 . The endovascular apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the retriever is offset from a central axis of the body. 
     
     
         14 . The endovascular apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the body comprises a spine connected to the retriever to form a single unitary structure. 
     
     
         15 . A method of forming an endovascular apparatus, comprising:
 forming adjacent hooks in a tubular piece of material, each hook extending longitudinally and having a thickness the same as a wall of the tubular piece of material; and   bending the adjacent hooks.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further including the step of fastening the adjacent hooks to form a single hook assembly having a thickness equal to or greater than twice the thickness of the single piece of material. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the fastening step comprises welding the adjacent hooks. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the bending step comprises rotating the hooks inwardly and upwardly. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the method further includes forming a mesh in the tubular piece of material. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the forming step comprises forming a spine connected to the adjacent hooks.