Abstract: A thrombectomy catheter includes a delivery catheter and a receiving catheter, both having balloons at their distal ends. The balloons are made of a material which, when inflated, assumes the shape of a receptacle. The thrombectomy catheter is inserted, as a unit, into a vessel, and advanced to the vicinity of a clot. Then, the delivery catheter is advanced, while the receiving catheter remains fixed, until the balloons of the two catheters are disposed on opposite sides of the clot. The balloons are inflated to occupy substantially the entire cross-section of the vessel, and the delivery catheter is withdrawn, causing its balloon to draw the clot into the receiving catheter. The clot therefore becomes encased between the balloons. The balloons are partially deflated, and the catheters are withdrawn as a unit, bringing with them the encased clot material.