Catheter

A retrieval catheter comprising:

• a catheter shaft defining a reception space for a medical device;
• a guidewire opening being provided in the catheter shaft;
• and
• a centring member movable relative to the catheter shaft between an introduction configuration in which the centring member extends distally of the catheter shaft, and a retrieval configuration in which the centring member is located proximally of a distal end of the catheter shaft for retrieval of a medical device into the reception space;
• the centring member defining a guidewire lumen therethrough;
• the guidewire lumen of the centring member being movable relative to the guidewire opening in the catheter shaft upon movement of the centring member between the introduction configuration and the retrieval configuration.

A retrieval catheter comprising:

• a catheter shaft defining a reception space for a medical device;
• a guidewire opening being provided in the catheter shaft located a substantial distance distally of a proximal end of the catheter for rapid exchange of the catheter over a guidewire;
• a centring member movable relative to the catheter shaft between an introduction configuration in which the centring member extends distally of the catheter shaft, and a retrieval configuration in which the centring member is located proximally of a distal end of the catheter shaft for retrieval of a medical device into the reception space;
• and
• an operating element coupled to the centring member to facilitate movement of the centring member between the introduction configuration and the retrieval configuration;
• a distal end of the centring member and a proximal end of the centring member translating relative to the catheter shaft during movement of the centring member relative to the catheter shaft.

A method of retrieving a medical device from a vasculature, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a retrieval catheter comprising a catheter shaft and a centring member;
• advancing the catheter through a vasculature over a guidewire in a rapid-exchange manner, with the centring member extending from a distal end of the catheter shaft, until the centring member is proximally adjacent to the medical device to be retrieved;
• manipulating the centring member from externally of the vasculature to move the centring member proximally relative to the catheter shaft;
• retrieving the medical device into the catheter shaft;
• and
• withdrawing the retrieval catheter and the retrieved medical device from the vasculature over the guidewire in a rapid exchange manner.