Thrombectomy device and associated method

A method for performing a thrombectomy comprising:

• connecting an inlet end of a tubular member to a blood vessel of a patient, said blood vessel containing clot material;
• connecting an outlet end of said tubular member to a vascular system of the patient, said blood vessel being part of said vascular system;
• guiding blood from said blood vessel through said tubular member to said vascular system;
• capturing, by a filter member disposed in said tubular member, clot material carried with said blood from said blood vessel;
• and
• operating a cutter element to sever clot pieces from a clot mass inside said blood vessel.

A thrombectomy device comprising:

• a tubular member defining a flow path;
• a clot filter disposed in said tubular member and extending transversely to said flow path for removing clot material from blood flowing along said flow path;
• at least one port element on said tubular member for coupling an inlet end of said tubular member to a blood vessel wherein clot material is located and for coupling an outlet end of said tubular member to a patient's vascular system including said blood vessel;
• a valve element connected to and disposed along said tubular member for controlling fluid flow therethrough;
• a suction device operatively connected to said tubular member, said valve element being operable in a first configuration to enable said suction device to draw clot and blood from said blood vessel and in a second configuration to enable said suction device to return blood to the patient's vascular system;
• and
• a cutter element operatively connected to said tubular member so as to be at least partially insertable into said blood vessel for severing clot pieces from a clot mass inside said blood vessel.