Clot retrieval devices

Abstract

A clot retrieval device for removing clot from a blood vessel including a plurality of ring elements comprising a plurality of struts forming one or more closed cells having one or more crown elements and attached together by connecting tethers at connection points, a plurality of openings through which clot may pass and enter the device, each opening being disposed between respective ring elements. Each ring element can be self-expandable from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration wherein a radial force biases the ring elements toward the expanded configuration. At least one of the crown element terminates in an apex away from a center axis of the device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A clot retrieval device for removing a clot from a blood vessel, the clot retrieval device comprising:
 an elongate member;   a plurality of radial pins disposed along the elongate member; and   a plurality of ring elements disposed along the elongate member,   wherein the ring elements are self-expandable from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration, and   wherein the ring elements are configured to engage with the radial pins when the ring elements are in the collapsed configuration and disengage from the radial pins when the ring elements are in the expanded configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The clot retrieval device of  claim 1 , wherein the ring elements further comprise one or more apices. 
     
     
         3 . The clot retrieval device of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more apices comprise one or more distal apices and one or more proximal apices offset from the one or more distal apices. 
     
     
         4 . The clot retrieval device of  claim 2 , wherein each of the one or more apices comprises one or more eyelets. 
     
     
         5 . The clot retrieval device of  claim 4 , wherein each eyelet of the one or more eyelets is configured to engage with a respective radial pin of the plurality of radial pins when the ring elements are in the collapsed configuration. 
     
     
         6 . The clot retrieval device of  claim 5 , wherein each eyelet of the one or more eyelets is configured to disengage from the respective radial pin of the plurality of radial pins when the ring elements are in the expanded configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The clot retrieval device of  claim 1 , wherein the ring elements are connected to the elongate member by one or more tethers. 
     
     
         8 . The clot retrieval device of  claim 1 , wherein the ring elements comprise a radial force configured to bias the ring elements toward the expanded configuration. 
     
     
         9 . The clot retrieval device of  claim 1 , wherein the ring elements are configured to engage the clot when the ring elements are in the expanded configuration. 
     
     
         10 . A clot retrieval device for removing a clot from a blood vessel, the clot retrieval device comprising:
 an elongate member comprising a distal end and a proximal end;   a plurality of radial pins disposed along the elongate member; and   a plurality of ring elements disposed at the distal end of the elongate member, the ring elements comprising:
 one or more distal apices; and 
 one or more proximal apices offset from the one or more distal apices, 
   wherein the ring elements are self-expandable from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration,   wherein the one or more distal apices are configured to engage with one or more first radial pins of the plurality of radial pins when the ring elements are in the collapsed configuration and disengage from the one or more first radial pins when the ring elements are in the expanded configuration, and   wherein the one or more proximal apices are configured to engage with one or more second radial pins of the plurality of radial pins when the ring elements are in the collapsed configuration and disengage from the one or more second radial pins when the ring elements are in the expanded configuration.   
     
     
         11 . The clot retrieval device of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more first radial pins are offset from the one or more second radial pins. 
     
     
         12 . The clot retrieval device of  claim 10 , wherein each of the one or more distal and proximal apices comprises one or more eyelets. 
     
     
         13 . The clot retrieval device of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the one or more distal apices are configured to engage with the one or more first radial pins via one or more first respective eyelets of the one or more eyelets, and   the one or more proximal apices are configured to engage with the one or more second radial pins via one or more second respective eyelets of the one or more eyelets.   
     
     
         14 . The clot retrieval device of  claim 10 , wherein the ring elements are connected to the elongate member by one or more tethers. 
     
     
         15 . The clot retrieval device of  claim 10 , wherein the ring elements comprise a radial force configured to bias the ring elements toward the expanded configuration. 
     
     
         16 . The clot retrieval device of  claim 10 , wherein the ring elements are configured to engage the clot when the ring elements are in the expanded configuration.