US Patent 7029488 Mechanical thrombectomy device for use in cerebral vessels

Apparatus and methods for treating cerebral occlusions are provided, including a thrombectomy device having at least one deployable element. The deployable element is advanced through the occlusion in a contracted state, then self-deploys distal of the occlusion or, alternatively, may be deployed to a wide range of configurations using a physician-actuated deployment knob. The thrombectomy device then may be retracted to cause the deployable element to snare the occlusion, and/or rotated circumferentially to cause the fibrin strands of the occlusion to be wrapped around the deployable element.