Multi-pivot thrombectomy device

A system for retrieving vascular debris in a vasculature comprising:

• at least three segments expandable from a collapsed state to an expanded state, each of the at least three segments having a waist comprising a radially largest region of the segment;
• at least two intermediate portions, each of the at least two intermediate portions comprising a pivot that connects adjacent segments, each pivot having a diameter less than a diameter of the waist;
• a sheath configured to encase the at least three segments in the collapsed state;
• and
• a tether attached to a proximalmost of the at least three segments and configured to position the at least three segments relative to the sheath;
• wherein each of the at least three segments comprises, between a proximal end and a distal end thereof, only struts and sub-struts, the struts and sub-struts extending radially outside the diameter of the pivot, wherein, in each of the at least three segments, at least one strut extends proximally from the distal end and along a first longitudinal region of the segment and divides into at least two sub-struts, the at least two sub-struts being entirely within a second longitudinal region of the segment that is outside the radially largest region of the segment;
• wherein the at least three segments and the at least two intermediate portions form a single monolithic structure;
• wherein a longitudinal length of each intermediate portion is less than a longitudinal length of each of the segments;
• wherein each intermediate portion forms a circumferentially continuous hollow cylinder.

A method of retrieving vascular debris from a vasculature comprising:

• inserting into the vasculature of a patient at least a portion of a sheath comprising a distal opening and encasing at least two segments expandable from a collapsed state to an expanded state, each of the at least two segments having a waist comprising a radially largest region of the segment and at least one intermediate portion comprising a pivot connecting the segment to an axially adjacent segment, wherein the at least two segments and the at least one intermediate portion form a single monolithic structure, wherein each of the at least two segments comprises, between a proximal end and a distal end thereof, only struts and sub-struts, the struts and sub-struts extending radially outside a diameter of the at least one intermediate portion, wherein, in each of the at least two segments, at least one strut extends proximally from the distal end and along a first longitudinal region of the segment and divides into at least two sub-struts, the at least two sub-struts being entirely within a second longitudinal region of the segment that is outside the radially largest region of the segment, wherein a longitudinal length of each intermediate portion is less than a longitudinal length of each of the segments, wherein each intermediate portion forms a circumferentially continuous hollow cylinder;
• expanding at least a portion of the at least two segments into vascular debris;
• and
• retrieving the at least two segments and the vascular debris to within the sheath.