Self-rolling apparatuses and methods for removing material from a body lumen

Abstract

Self-rolling mechanical atherectomy aka thrombectomy apparatuses for removing a clot from a vessel include a tractor tube portion that rolls and inverts over itself in a continuous motion, tractor-like, to draw material into the tractor tube, wherein the tractor tube rolls over itself without requiring any additional internal support at the distal-facing region of the tractor tube.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of removing a material from a body lumen, the method comprising:
 advancing a distal end of a self-rolling apparatus through the body lumen to the material, wherein the self-rolling apparatus comprises a tractor tube, an outer tractor pusher, and an inner tractor puller;   pulling the inner tractor puller proximally to compress an outer tractor tube portion of the tractor tube, wherein the compressed outer tractor tube portion has a column strength that resists collapsing up to at least 500 g of compression, and wherein pulling the inner tractor puller proximally causes the outer tractor tube portion at a distal-facing region of the tractor tube to roll over itself, unsupported, and invert into the inner tractor tube portion; and   engaging the material with the tractor tube as it rolls over itself so that the material is pulled into the tractor tube.