System and method for treating ischemic stroke

1. A method for removing a thromboembolism from a blood vessel, said method comprising:

providing a device comprising a catheter having an axial lumen, a pusher element slidably disposed in the lumen of the catheter, and a thromboembolic receiver on a distal end of the pusher element, the receiver formed of a plurality of structural members arranged to form a sleeve having a central lumen, a first plurality of structural members comprising longitudinally extending struts, a second plurality of the structural members comprising v-shaped engaging elements, and a third set of structural members comprising a plurality of axially spaced-apart circumferential rings attached to the longitudinal struts, each of said v-shaped engaging elements being disposed between adjacent ones of the longitudinal struts and including a first leg extending into the central lumen from a first longitudinal strut and a second leg extending into the central lumen from a second, adjacent longitudinal strut, said first and second legs attached to one another within the central lumen to define a plurality of longitudinally oriented apexes extending into the central lumen, wherein at least a distal row and a proximal row of the v-shaped engaging elements are disposed between a distal circumferential ring and a proximal circumferential ring and each apex is unattached to any other structure within the central lumen;

positioning a distal end of the catheter adjacent to the thromboembolism in the blood vessel;

retracting the catheter relative to the pusher element to release the thromboembolic receiver from constraint so that the receiver expands to a cylindrical shape with a fully open end, wherein the open end of the expanded cylindrical thromboembolic receiver engages the thromboembolism; and

retracting the pusher element to remove the thromboembolism from the blood vessel.

2. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the expanded thromboembolic receiver opens to engage an inner wall of the blood vessel.

3. A method as in claim 2 , wherein the thromboembolic receiver is advanced distally over the thromboembolism.

4. A method for engaging a thromboembolic body within a blood vessel, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a receiver formed of a plurality of structural members arranged to form a sleeve having a central lumen, a first plurality of structural members comprising longitudinally extending struts, a second plurality of the structural members comprising v-shaped engaging elements, and a third set of structural members comprising a plurality of axially spaced-apart circumferential rings attached to the longitudinal struts, each of said v-shaped engaging elements being disposed between adjacent ones of the longitudinal struts and including a first leg extending into the central lumen from a first longitudinal strut and a second leg extending into the central lumen from a second, adjacent longitudinal strut, said first and second legs attached to one another within the central lumen to define a plurality of longitudinally oriented apexes extending into the central lumen, wherein at least a distal row and a proximal row of the v-shaped engaging elements are disposed between a distal circumferential ring and a proximal circumferential ring and each apex is unattached to any other structure within the central lumen; and

advancing the receiver over a body of thromboembolic material within a blood vessel, causing the body to be received into the central lumen, and causing the engaging elements to engage the body within the lumen.

5. The method of claim 4 , further including the step of withdrawing the receiver, with the body in the central lumen, from the blood vessel.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein:

the providing step further provides a catheter, the receiver slidable within the catheter, wherein the receiver is radially expandable from a compressed position to an expanded position;

the method includes the steps of:

positioning the receiver, in the compressed position, within the catheter; and

positioning the catheter within the blood vessel in a position proximal of the body of thromboembolic material; and

the advancing step includes extending the receiver from the catheter.

7. The method of claim 6 , further including the step of, following the advancing step, sliding a distal portion of the catheter against a proximal portion of the receiver to cause the receiver to exert pressure against the thromboembolic body in a radially inward direction.

8. The method of claim 4 , further including the steps of:

positioning a sheath within the blood vessel, the sheath having an occlusion balloon thereon; and

occluding the blood vessel using the occlusion balloon.