Abstract: An aspiration catheter can be used to capture and retrieve vascular debris from blood vessels. The aspiration catheter can include a distal segment having ports positioned along its longitudinal length and about its circumference. The distal segment can capture thrombus at least partially on an exterior of the distal segment when aspiration is applied through the ports, and retrieve the thrombus when the elongate member is retracted proximally. The distal segment can be modified from a non-collapsed configuration to a collapsed configuration when aspiration is applied through the ports. The distal segment can have projections arranged along and around its circumference. The projections can be configured to slide distally through a thrombus within a blood vessel and to pull the thrombus when the elongate member is retracted proximally.

Abstract: In some examples, a catheter includes an elongated body extending between a proximal end and a distal end, and defining an inner lumen, an outer body wall having a wall cross-sectional diameter, and a distal aperture at the distal end. A distal portion of the elongated body including a taper section that tapers from the outer body wall of the distal portion to the distal aperture, with the distal portion defining a plurality of slits open to the distal aperture. The distal aperture has an aperture diameter greater than zero and less than the wall cross-sectional diameter. The distal portion defining the plurality of slits is configured to substantially center the distal end around a guide member when the guide member is introduced in the inner lumen and extends through the distal aperture.

Abstract: A medical device retrieval system can include an elongate core member and an expandable member coupled to a distal portion of the elongate core member. The expandable member can move between collapsed and expanded states. The expandable member has an exterior having barbs positioned therealong. The expandable member can be expanded to contact and engage a portion of a medical device positioned within the vasculature of a patient in order to retrieve and remove the medical device therefrom. When the expandable member moves to the collapsed state, it can move the medical device from a higher profile configuration to a lower profile configuration to facilitate retrieval.

Abstract: A torque apparatus for facilitating manipulation of a guidewire includes a handle member dimensioned for engagement by a clinician and defining a longitudinal axis and a torque member mounted to the handle member. The torque member defines a lumen configured for reception and passage of a guidewire and is configured to rotate relative to the handle member to impart rotational movement to the guidewire. A gripper member associated with the torque member is adapted to releasably secure the guidewire relative to the torque member and a trigger member depending from the handle member is actuable to cause the gripper member to release the guidewire to thereby permit the guidewire to be moved within the lumen of the torque member. An actuator is operatively coupled to the torque member and is movable to impart rotational movement to the torque member to thereby cause corresponding rotational movement of the guidewire.

Abstract: An aspiration catheter can be used to capture and retrieve vascular debris from blood vessels. The aspiration catheter can include a distal segment having ports positioned along its longitudinal length and about its circumference. The distal segment can capture thrombus at least partially on an exterior of the distal segment when aspiration is applied through the ports, and retrieve the thrombus when the elongate member is retracted proximally. The distal segment can be modified from a non-collapsed configuration to a collapsed configuration when aspiration is applied through the ports. The distal segment can have projections arranged along and around its circumference. The projections can be configured to slide distally through a thrombus within a blood vessel and to pull the thrombus when the elongate member is retracted proximally.

Abstract: A medical device retrieval system can include an elongate core member and an expandable member coupled to a distal portion of the elongate core member. The expandable member can move between collapsed and expanded states. The expandable member has an exterior having barbs positioned therealong. The expandable member can be expanded to contact and engage a portion of a medical device positioned within the vasculature of a patient in order to retrieve and remove the medical device therefrom. When the expandable member moves to the collapsed state, it can move the medical device from a higher profile configuration to a lower profile configuration to facilitate retrieval.

Abstract: In some examples, a catheter may include a catheter body configured such that at least one of a proximal portion or a medial portion of the catheter body has a cross-sectional shape including at least three apexes, adjacent apexes being connected by curvilinear sidewalls, the cross-section being taken substantially orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the catheter body. In some examples, the entire catheter body has the cross-sectional shape including at least three apexes, adjacent apexes being connected by curvilinear sidewalls. In other examples, only a portion of the catheter body has the cross-sectional shape.

Abstract: In some examples, a catheter includes an elongated body extending between a proximal end and a distal end, and defining an inner lumen, an outer body wall having a wall cross-sectional diameter, and a distal aperture at the distal end. A distal portion of the elongated body including a taper section that tapers from the outer body wall of the distal portion to the distal aperture, with the distal portion defining a plurality of slits open to the distal aperture. The distal aperture has an aperture diameter greater than zero and less than the wall cross-sectional diameter. The distal portion defining the plurality of slits is configured to substantially center the distal end around a guide member when the guide member is introduced in the inner lumen and extends through the distal aperture.

Abstract: A torque apparatus for facilitating manipulation of a guidewire includes a handle member dimensioned for engagement by a clinician and defining a longitudinal axis and a torque member mounted to the handle member. The torque member defines a lumen configured for reception and passage of a guidewire and is configured to rotate relative to the handle member to impart rotational movement to the guidewire. A gripper member associated with the torque member is adapted to releasably secure the guidewire relative to the torque member and a trigger member depending from the handle member is actuable to cause the gripper member to release the guidewire to thereby permit the guidewire to be moved within the lumen of the torque member. An actuator is operatively coupled to the torque member and is movable to impart rotational movement to the torque member to thereby cause corresponding rotational movement of the guidewire.