Internal carotid artery thrombectomy devices and methods

A balloon guiding sheath, comprising:

• an elongated sheath having a proximal end, a distal end opposite the proximal end, an inner tube extending between the proximal end and the distal end, an outer tube surrounding the inner tube and extending between the proximal end and the distal end, an access port located adjacent the proximal end, a distal port located adjacent the distal end, and a working lumen extending through the elongated sheath between the access port and the distal port;
• an inflatable balloon located on an outer surface of the elongated sheath adjacent the distal end and configured to, in an inflated state, occlude blood flow through a vessel at a treatment site, the inflatable balloon being fluidly coupled to an inflation lumen extending between the inflatable balloon and an inflation port located adjacent the proximal end;
• and at least one vent hole located between the outer surface of the elongated sheath and an inner surface of the inflatable balloon and on only a proximal side of the inflatable balloon, wherein the at least one vent hole is fluidly coupled to the inflatable balloon and configured to allow air to flow from the inflatable balloon to an external portion outside the balloon guiding sheath, and wherein the at least one vent hole is configured to prevent liquid from passing through the at least one vent hole.