Abstract: A method of extracting a thrombus from a thrombus site in a cerebral artery of a patient by advancing a first catheter into an internal carotid artery of the patient; advancing a funnel catheter within the first catheter; moving the funnel catheter and the first catheter with respect to each other to place the funnel outside of the first catheter; expanding the funnel into contact with an inner wall of the internal carotid artery at or proximal to a distal end of a carotid siphon, thereby reducing blood flow past the funnel; advancing a clot-mobilizer distally through the first catheter toward the thrombus and beyond the carotid siphon; engaging thrombus material from the thrombus with the clot-mobilizer; moving the clot-mobilizer and thrombus material proximally at least partially into the funnel; applying suction to aspirate thrombus material; and moving the funnel, the clot-mobilizer and the thrombus material proximally within the vasculature.

Abstract: A loading device for loading a medical device into a catheter is provided. The loading device comprises a body having a lumen to receive an expandable portion of a medical device. The lumen has a length as the expandable portion when the latter is in a collapsed configuration and has a diameter that is greater than the collapsed configuration. The body comprises a first portion and a second portion that are reversibly separable to expose the lumen in an open configuration and enclose the lumen in a closed configuration. The first and second portions each comprise an inner face having a groove defining a first portion of the lumen and a second portion of the lumen, respectively. The body also has a distal tip portion to reversibly couple with a hemostatic valve of a delivery catheter. A method of loading a medical device into a catheter is also provided.

Abstract: A thrombectomy device including a delivery catheter; a tapered dilator catheter configured to be movably disposed within the delivery catheter; and an expandable aspiration funnel configured to be movably disposed within the delivery catheter in a retracted position and at least partially outside the delivery catheter in an extended position, the funnel comprising a non-permeable covering, a diameter of a distal end of the funnel being greater in the extended position than in the retracted position, the funnel being configured to adapt its shape and length to a surrounding blood vessel such that the funnel lengthens as it narrows to retain a thrombus within the funnel. The invention also includes methods of using the device.