Clot retrieval system

A system for removing objects from an interior lumen of an animal, the system comprising:

• a pull wire having a proximal end and a distal end;
• a distal body attached to the pull wire, the distal body comprising a distal body perimeter separating a distal body interior from a distal body exterior, a proximal end having a proximal end center, a distal end having a distal end center, a distal body length extending from the proximal end to the distal end, a longitudinal axis extending through the proximal end center and the distal end center and parallel to the distal body length, a proximal junction forming the proximal end of the distal body, a basket comprising a proximal portion comprised of a plurality of proximal cells formed by a plurality of basket memory metal strips and a distal portion located adjacent to a distal end of the basket and permanently connected to the proximal portion at at least one connection point, the proximal portion comprising a proximal portion interior, the distal portion comprised of a plurality of distal braided mesh openings formed by a plurality of woven linear strands, the distal portion having a perimeter, each woven linear strand rotating about the distal portion perimeter relative to the distal body longitudinal axis a plurality of times in a helical fashion, the basket comprising a basket interior, the distal body having a relaxed state wherein the distal body has a first height and a first width, and a collapsed state wherein the distal body has a second height and a second width, the second height less than the first height, the second width less than the first width;
• and
• a catheter having an interior, a proximal end leading to the interior and a distal end leading to the interior, the catheter comprised of a biocompatible material and configured to envelope the distal body when the distal body is in the collapsed state,
• wherein, in the relaxed state, the median surface area of the proximal cells is larger than the median surface area of the distal braided mesh openings,
• wherein, in the relaxed state, the median radial force of the distal portion is substantially less than the median radial force of the proximal portion,
• wherein, the proximal portion and the distal portion each have a length generally parallel to the distal body length, the proximal portion and distal portion lengths configured to elongate upon moving from the relaxed state to the collapsed state,
• wherein, upon moving from the relaxed state to the collapsed state, the length of the distal portion is configured to elongate a greater percentage as compared to the elongation of the proximal portion,
• wherein the woven linear strands rotate about the distal body perimeter relative to the distal body longitudinal axis a fewer number of times per unit of length in the collapsed state as compared to the relaxed state,
• wherein, in the relaxed state, the proximal portion comprises a first pair of distal crowns not attached to another cell of the basket and pointing generally in the distal direction, the distal crowns in the first pair of distal crowns located approximately the same distance from the proximal junction and between 150 degrees and 180 degrees relative to each other, and further wherein the basket further comprises a second pair of distal crowns not attached to another cell of the basket and pointing generally in the distal direction, the second pair of distal crowns located distally relative to the first pair of distal crowns, each of the distal crowns in the second pair of distal crowns located between 60 degrees and 90 degrees relative to a distal crown in the first pair of distal crowns, the distal crowns in the second pair of distal crowns located approximately the same distance from the proximal junction, each of the distal crowns forming a portion of a proximal cell,
• wherein each distal crown in the first and second pair of distal crowns forms part of a different enlarged proximal cell, each enlarged proximal cell having a center,
• wherein the centers of the enlarged proximal cells of the first pair of distal crowns are between 150 degrees and 180 degrees relative to each other and between 60 degrees and 90 degrees relative to the centers of the enlarged cells of the second pair of distal crowns, and
• wherein the enlarged proximal cells are configured to allow a thrombus to pass therethrough and into the basket interior.