# US 11,439,416 B2 · Obstruction removal system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,439,416 B2 - Document ID: US11439416B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/909,887 - Filed: 2020-06-23 - Published: 2020-10-08 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2012-06-27 - Assignees: MicroVention, Inc. - Applicants: MicroVention, Inc. - Inventors: Heath Bowman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11439416B2 ## CPC - A61B 17/22032: {having inflatable gripping elements (balloon catheters A61M25/10)} - A61B 17/221: Gripping devices in the form of loops or baskets {for gripping calculi or similar types of obstructions (surgical snare instruments A61B17/32056)} - A61B 2017/22001: {Angioplasty, e.g. PCTA} - A61B 2017/22034: {for gripping the obstruction or the tissue part from inside} - A61B 2017/2212: {having a closed distal end, e.g. a loop} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An obstruction removal device for capturing and removing obstructions from a vascular system comprising: a plurality of engaging members; and, a plurality of links in which each of the plurality of links connect one of the plurality of engaging members to an adjacent engaging member of the plurality of engaging members; wherein the plurality of links are configured such that at least one of the plurality of engaging members can rotate independently of another of the plurality of engaging members. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The obstruction removal device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of engaging members includes an opening which each of the plurality of links is positioned through. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The obstruction removal device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of engaging members includes two openings, each of the openings are positioned at a proximal end and a distal end of each of the plurality of engaging members. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The obstruction removal device of claim 1, further comprising a proximal structure connected to at least one of the plurality of engaging members. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The obstruction removal device of claim 4, wherein at least one of the plurality of engaging members can rotate independently of the proximal structure. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The obstruction removal device of claim 1, further comprising a distal structure connected to at least one of the plurality of engaging members. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The obstruction removal device of claim 6, wherein at least one of the plurality of engaging members can rotate independently of the distal structure. ### Claim 8 An obstruction removal device for capturing and removing obstructions from a vascular system comprising: a plurality of engaging members that each have an opening; and, a plurality of links that are each positioned through the opening of at least one of the plurality of engaging members, each of the links connecting one of the plurality of engaging members to an adjacent engaging member of the plurality of engaging members, wherein at least one of the plurality of engaging members can rotate independently of another of the plurality of engaging members. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The obstruction removal device of claim 8, wherein each of the engaging members has an additional opening. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The obstruction removal device of claim 9, wherein the opening is a proximal end opening and the additional opening is a distal end opening. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The obstruction removal device of claim 8, wherein the plurality of links each include an elongate element and an enlarged end. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The obstruction removal device of claim 8, wherein the plurality of links each include an elongate element and two enlarged ends. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The obstruction removal device of claim 8, wherein each of the engaging members can rotate independently of each of the other of the plurality of engaging members. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The obstruction removal device of claim 8, wherein the plurality of links are configured such that at least one of the plurality of engaging members can rotate independently of another of the plurality of engaging members. ### Claim 15 (depends on 8) The obstruction removal device of claim 8, further comprising a proximal structure connected to at least one of the plurality of engaging members. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The obstruction removal device of claim 15, wherein at least one of the plurality of engaging members can rotate independently of the proximal structure. ### Claim 17 (depends on 8) The obstruction removal device of claim 8, further comprising a distal structure connected to at least one of the plurality of engaging members. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The obstruction removal device of claim 17, wherein at least one of the plurality of engaging members can rotate independently of the distal structure. ### Claim 19 An obstruction removal device for capturing and removing obstructions from a vascular system comprising: three engaging members; and, two links, each of the links connecting one of the three engaging members to an adjacent engaging member of the three engaging members; wherein one of the three engaging members can rotate independently of two of the three engaging members. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The obstruction removal device of claim 19, further comprising a fourth engaging member and a third link.