Apparatus and methods for retrieving a foreign body from a vasculature

An apparatus for retrieval of a foreign body, the apparatus comprising:

• an elongate shaft;
• a funnel-shaped braid structure having a distal portion folded back inwardly to form a distal opening and a flap;
• and,
• a plurality of elongate support elements configured to support the funnel-shaped braid structure, wherein each of the plurality of elongate support elements is coupled to the elongate shaft and extends to the distal opening;
• wherein, the plurality of elongate support elements comprise two support members that are concentric bodies that are offset from one another in angular relation to prevent overlap of the respective elongate support elements of each of the two support members in the retrieval of the foreign body.

An apparatus for retrieval of a foreign body, the apparatus comprising:

• an elongate shaft having a distal end;
• a funnel-shaped braid material having a distal portion folded back inwardly to form a distal opening and a flap;
• and,
• a plurality of elongate support elements configured to support the funnel-shaped braid material and compress for the delivery or retrieval of the vascular medical device;
• wherein,
• each of the plurality of elongate support elements extends from the distal end of the elongate shaft to the distal opening of the funnel-shaped braid material;
• the plurality of elongate support elements comprise two J-shaped ends and folded inwardly to support the flap of the funnel-shaped braid material;
• and,
• the proximal ends of the elongate support elements float on the funnel-shaped braid material during the compression of the elongate support elements in the retrieval of the foreign body.

A funnel trap for retrieval of a foreign body, the funnel trap comprising:

• a compressible support member extending from the distal end of an elongate shaft and having a proximal end, a distal end, and an interior, and including
• an expanded configuration having a funnel shape;
• a compressed configuration;
• and,
• a plurality of independent elongate support elements that have a memory for the funnel-shaped expanded configuration and meet at the distal end of the elongate shaft, each support element flexing at the distal end of the elongate shaft to form the compressed configuration and the funnel-shaped expanded configuration;
• and,
• a cover material that
• covers the compressible support member from the proximal end of the compressible support member to the distal end of the compressible support member, the expanded configuration of the compressible support member supporting the funnel-shape of the cover material;
• and,
• folds over the distal end of the compressible support member and into the interior of the compressible support member to form a pocket having a distal rim opening and a proximal rim opening,
• the pocket configured for capturing the foreign body in the interior of the compressible support member.