Retrieval of material from vessel lumens

#The present technology relates generally to devices and methods for removing obstructions from body lumens. Some embodiments of the present technology relate to devices and methods for removing clot material from blood vessels.

#Many medical procedures use medical device(s) to remove an obstruction (such as clot material) from a body lumen, vessel, or other organ. An inherent risk in such procedures is that mobilizing or otherwise disturbing the obstruction can potentially create further harm if the obstruction or a fragment thereof dislodges from the retrieval device. If all or a portion of the obstruction breaks free from the device and flows downstream, it is highly likely that the free material will become trapped in smaller and more tortuous anatomy. In many cases, the physician will no longer be able to use the same retrieval device to again remove the obstruction because the device may be too large and/or immobile to move the device to the site of the new obstruction.

#Even in successful procedures, a physician must be cautious to prevent the walls of the vessel or body lumen from imparting undesired forces to shear or dislodge the obstruction as it passes through the vasculature during removal. These forces have the potential of fragmenting the obstruction. In some cases, the obstruction can simply break free from the retrieval device and can lodge in a new area causing more concern than the original blockage.

#Many aspects of the present technology can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale. Instead, emphasis is placed on illustrating clearly the principles of the present disclosure.

#FIG. A is a side view of a distal portion of a clot retrieval device shown with a retrieval assembly in a first configuration in accordance with the present technology.

#FIG. 1B is a side view of the distal portion of the clot retrieval device of FIG. 1A, shown with the retrieval assembly shown in a second, everted configuration.

#The present technology provides devices, systems, and methods for removing clot material from a blood vessel lumen. Although many of the embodiments are described below with respect to devices, systems, and methods for treating a cerebral or intracranial embolism, other applications and other embodiments in addition to those described herein are within the scope of the technology. For example, the retrieval devices of the present technology may be used to remove emboli from body lumens other than blood vessels (e.g., the digestive tract, etc.) and/or may be used to remove emboli from blood vessels outside of the brain (e.g., pulmonary blood vessels, blood vessels within the legs, etc.). In addition, the retrieval devices of the present technology may be used to remove luminal obstructions other than clot material (e.g., plaque, resected tissue, foreign material, etc.).

#An overview of the retrieval devices of the present technology and associated methods of use is described below under heading 1.0 with reference to FIGS. 1A-2G. Some embodiments of various subcomponents of the retrieval devices of the present technology are described below under headings 2.0 and 3.0. In particular, some embodiments of covers are described further under heading 2.0 with reference to FIGS. 3A-8C, and some embodiments of connection assemblies are described further under heading 3.0 with reference to FIGS. 9A-15.

#FIGS. 1A and 1B are side views of a distal portion of some embodiments of a retrieval device or a clot retrieving device 10 (“device 10”) outside of a blood vessel in an expanded, relaxed (e.g., unconstrained) configuration in accordance with the present technology. The clot retrieving device 10 is shown in first and second configurations in FIGS. 1A and 1B, respectively. As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the clot retrieving device 10 includes an elongated shaft 12 (“shaft 12”) and a retrieval assembly 14 coupled to a distal region of the elongated shaft 12 via a connection assembly 300. The retrieval assembly 14 is configured to be intravascularly positioned at or adjacent clot material within a blood vessel lumen and includes a capture structure 100 and a flexible cover 200. A portion of the cover is removed in FIGS. 1A and 1B for ease of viewing the capture structure 100. In some embodiments, the capture structure 100 and the cover 200 are fixed to the elongated shaft 12 at generally the same location, or the capture structure 100 and cover 200 may be coupled to the shaft 12 at different locations and/or may be slidable with respect to the elongated shaft 12.