Intracranial blood vessel dilation device

A method of dilating a blocked or constricted portion of an affected vessel within a patient's body, the method comprising:

• delivering a blood vessel dilation device to the blocked or constricted portion of the blood vessel, the blood vessel dilation device comprising an elongated microwire including an expandable segment having a distal end and comprising at least two struts having a configuration for allowing blood flow through the vessel, and a tether coupled to the distal end of the expandable segment;
• moving the tether at least a first pre-determined distance in a proximal direction to expand the expandable segment to a first pre-set outer diameter to dilate the blocked or constricted portion of the vessel;
• and
• evaluating blood flow through the vessel.

A blood vessel dilation device for dilating a blocked or constricted portion of a vessel in a patient's body, the device comprising:

• an elongated microwire having a proximal end and a distal end and including a lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end and an expandable segment configured to transition from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration, the expandable segment comprising at least two struts having a configuration allowing blood flow through the vessel extending from a proximal end to a distal end of the expandable segment and a maximum pre-set outer diameter substantially equal to or less than an inner diameter of the vessel;
• a tether coupled to the distal end of the expandable segment and extending within the lumen to a distance beyond the proximal end of the microwire;
• and
• a handle portion coupled to the proximal end of the microwire and including an incremental adjustment feature coupled to a proximal end of the tether for controllably expanding the expandable segment.