Neurovascular catheter with enlargeable distal end

A neurovascular catheter, comprising:

• an elongate flexible tubular body, having a proximal end, a distal end, and a sidewall defining a central lumen, a distal zone of the tubular body comprising:
• an opening at the distal end which is enlargeable from a first inside diameter for transluminal navigation to a second, larger inside diameter to facilitate aspiration of thrombus into the central lumen;
• a high durometer region of the sidewall and a low durometer region of the sidewall;
• a self-expanding stent positioned within the central lumen, wherein the stent is configured to be retained in an under-expanded configuration within the high durometer region and an expanded configuration in the low durometer region, expansion of the stent within the low durometer region being configured to enlarge the opening from the first inside diameter to the second inside diameter;
• a tubular inner liner;
• a tie layer separated from the central lumen by the inner liner;
• a helical coil surrounding the tie layer, adjacent windings of the helical coil spaced progressively further apart in a distal direction;
• and
• an outer jacket surrounding the helical coil,
• wherein the stent is moveable along a longitudinal axis defined by the central lumen between the high durometer region and the low durometer region.