Thrombectomy apparatus

A medical kit for ingesting a thrombus or embolus, the medical kit comprising:

• an outer assembly including:
• an outer catheter defining an outer catheter lumen;
• a middle catheter slidingly disposed within the outer catheter lumen, the middle catheter including a distal region and defining a middle catheter lumen;
• a funnel coupled to the distal region of the middle catheter, the funnel including a funnel periphery;
• the middle catheter coupled to the outer catheter with the funnel extending distally from the outer catheter lumen;
• and
• an inner assembly including:
• an inner catheter slidingly disposed within the middle catheter lumen, the inner catheter including a distal region;
• and
• an ingestion sleeve coupled to the distal region of the inner catheter and adapted to pass over the funnel periphery and extend proximally therefrom within the middle catheter lumen;
• wherein advancing the outer assembly distally while holding the inner assembly in place relative to the thrombus or embolus causes the ingestion sleeve to slide over the funnel periphery as the funnel moves distally, thereby pulling the thrombus or embolus through the funnel and into the middle catheter lumen.

A method of removing a thrombus or embolus from within a patient's vasculature, the method comprising:

• advancing an assembly through the vasculature to a position proximate the thrombus or embolus, the assembly including an outer catheter, a middle catheter slidingly disposed within the outer catheter and bearing a funnel, and an inner catheter slidingly disposed within the middle catheter and bearing an ingestion sleeve extending over a periphery of the funnel;
• holding the inner catheter in position relative to the thrombus or embolus;
• advancing the middle catheter and the outer catheter distally relative to the thrombus or embolus, thereby causing the ingestion sleeve to pull the thrombus or embolus through the funnel and into the middle catheter;
• moving the middle catheter proximally in order to withdraw the funnel into the outer catheter;
• and
• withdrawing the assembly from the patient.