# US 2014/0155981 A1 · Expandable tip assembly for thrombus management > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0155981 A1 - Document ID: US20140155981A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/924,703 - Filed: 2013-06-24 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2007-10-17 - Assignees: Covidien LP - Applicants: Covidien LP - Inventors: David A. Ferrera; Andrew H. Cragg; John Fulkerson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140155981A1 ## CPC - A61B 17/320725: {with radially expandable cutting or abrading elements (A61B17/32075 takes precedence)} - A61F 2/01: Filters implantable into blood vessels - A61B 17/22031: {Gripping instruments, e.g. forceps, for removing or smashing calculi (A61B17/221 takes precedence)} - A61B 17/221: Gripping devices in the form of loops or baskets {for gripping calculi or similar types of obstructions (surgical snare instruments A61B17/32056)} - A61F 2/91: made from perforated sheets or tubes, e.g. perforated by laser cuts or etched holes - A61F 2/95: Instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts - A61B 2017/00867: {shape memory effect} - A61B 2017/22038: {with a guide wire} - A61F 2002/016: {made from wire-like elements} - A61F 2002/018: {made from tubes or sheets of material, e.g. by etching or laser-cutting} - A61F 2230/0006: circular - A61F 2230/0067: conical - A61F 2230/0069: cylindrical - A61F 2230/0091: helically-coiled or spirally-coiled, i.e. having a 2-D spiral cross-section - A61F 2230/0093: Umbrella-shaped, e.g. mushroom-shaped - A61F 2230/0097: Harpoon-shaped - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) ## Abstract Systems, methods, and devices for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke that provide immediate blood flow restoration to a vessel occluded by a clot and, after reestablishing blood flow, address the clot itself. Immediate blood flow restoration advantageously can facilitate natural lysis of the clot and also can reduce or obviate the concern for distal embolization due to fragmentation of the clot. Several embodiments of the invention provide for progressive, or modular, treatment based upon the nature of the clot. For example, the progressive treatment can include immediate restoration of blood flow, in-situ clot management, and/or clot removal depending on the particular circumstances of the treatment. The in-situ clot management can include, for example, lysis, maceration, and/or removal. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 -25. (canceled) ### Claim 26 An expandable tip assembly adapted to address an occlusive thrombus within a blood vessel, comprising: an elongate member; a tubular scaffold coupled to the distal end of the elongate member, the scaffold comprising a plurality of cells and configured to radially self-expand from a non-expanded configuration within a catheter to an expanded configuration upon unsheathing of the scaffold from the catheter; wherein the scaffold has a chronic outward force (COF) per unit length that does not decrease by more than 75% from a scaffold diameter of 1.5 mm to a scaffold diameter of 4.5 mm; and wherein the open cells are sized to promote at least one of vessel reperfusion or thrombus removal. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The expandable tip assembly of claim 26, wherein the plurality of cells is defined by struts and bridges. ### Claim 28 (depends on 26) The expandable tip assembly of claim 26, wherein the scaffold is coupled to the distal end of the elongate member by a plurality of tethers that extend eccentrically from the distal end of the elongate member. ### Claim 29 (depends on 26) The expandable tip assembly of claim 26, wherein the scaffold has a chronic outward force (COF) per unit length that does not decrease by more than 50% from a diameter of 1.5 mm to a diameter of 4.5 mm. ### Claim 30 (depends on 26) The expandable tip assembly of claim 26, wherein the cells of the scaffold have a uniform cell size. ### Claim 31 (depends on 26) The expandable tip assembly of claim 26, wherein the cells of the scaffold have a variable cell size. ### Claim 32 (depends on 26) The expandable tip assembly of claim 26, wherein the cells of the scaffold have a cell size adapted to inhibit protrusion of portions of the thrombus within an interior of the scaffold. ### Claim 33 (depends on 26) The expandable tip assembly of claim 26, wherein the cells of the scaffold have a cell size adapted to promote protrusion of portions of the thrombus within an interior of the scaffold. ### Claim 34 (depends on 26) The expandable tip assembly of claim 26, wherein the cells of the scaffold have a cell length of between 4 mm and 6 mm and a cell height between 2 mm and 4 mm in the expanded configuration. ### Claim 35 (depends on 26) The expandable tip assembly of claim 26, wherein the scaffold has an average chronic outward force across a diameter of 1.5 mm to 4.5 mm of between 0.0020 N and 0.0090 N. ### Claim 36 (depends on 26) The expandable tip assembly of claim 26, wherein the scaffold is permanently, non-removably coupled to the elongate member. ### Claim 37 (depends on 26) The expandable tip assembly of claim 26, wherein the scaffold is detachably coupled to the elongate member. ### Claim 38 (depends on 26) The expandable tip assembly of claim 26, wherein a proximal end of the scaffold is open. ### Claim 39 (depends on 26) The expandable tip assembly of claim 26, wherein the scaffold has a maximum expansion diameter of about 1 mm to about 5 mm. ### Claim 40 (depends on 26) The expandable tip assembly of claim 26, wherein the scaffold has a length of about from about 5 mm to about 50 mm. ### Claim 41 (depends on 26) The expandable tip assembly of claim 26, wherein the scaffold comprises one or more of the following features: a tapered body; a coating configured to increase platelet activation or adhesion of the thrombus to the scaffold; a length configured to at least partially span the thrombus; sufficient radial force to provide continuous radial expansion as the thrombus is lysed; does not comprise a backbone; and is not a rolled mesh scaffold that is configured to overlap on itself. ### Claim 42 (depends on 26) The expandable tip assembly of claim 26, wherein the scaffold comprises one or more of the following features: a body having a triangular, elliptical, spiral or undulating configuration; a non-thrombogenic coating or a coating with an anti-clotting drug; a ratio of strut thickness to strut width is less than at least about 1.4; parallelogram-shaped cells; and U-shaped bridges between cells of the scaffold. ### Claim 43 (depends on 26) The expandable tip assembly of claim 26, wherein the scaffold comprises an open distal end without a distal embolic protection member or device. ### Claim 44 (depends on 26) The expandable tip assembly of claim 26, wherein a proximal end of the scaffold is tapered to facilitate re-sheathing of the scaffold. ### Claim 45 (depends on 26) The expandable tip assembly of claim 26, wherein the scaffold comprises a laser-cut tube.