Clot retrieval system

1. A system for removing a blood clot from a human blood vessel, the system comprising:

a proximal outer tube comprising a proximal outer tube exterior comprising a slot, a proximal outer tube interior, a proximal outer tube proximal end, a proximal outer tube distal end, and a proximal outer tube length extending from the proximal outer tube proximal end to the proximal outer tube distal end, wherein the slot comprises a slot proximal end, a slot distal end, and a slot length extending from the slot proximal end to the slot distal end and parallel to the proximal outer tube length;

a distal outer tube comprising a distal outer tube exterior, a distal outer tube interior, a distal outer tube proximal end located distal to the proximal outer tube distal end, a distal outer tube distal end, a distal outer tube length extending from the distal outer tube proximal end to the distal outer tube distal end, the distal outer tube proximal end not attached to the proximal outer tube distal end;

an inner tube extending from the proximal outer tube interior to the distal outer tube interior, the inner tube comprising an inner tube interior, an inner tube exterior comprising a fin positioned in the proximal outer tube slot, an inner tube proximal end, an inner tube distal end and an inner tube length extending from the inner tube proximal end to the inner tube distal end;

a compressible spring having a spring proximal end, a spring distal end, and a spring length extending from the spring proximal end to the spring distal end;

a pull wire having a pull wire proximal end and a pull wire distal end located distal to the distal outer tube distal end,

a distal body located distal to the distal outer tube and comprising a distal body interior, a distal body perimeter, a distal body proximal end connected to the pull wire, a distal body distal end, a distal body length extending from the distal body proximal end to the distal body distal end, and a distal body height and width perpendicular to the distal body length, the distal body comprising a framework formed by a plurality of memory metal strips, wherein the distal body has a relaxed state wherein the distal body has a first height and a first width, and a collapsed state wherein the distal body has a second height and a second width, the second height of the distal body less than the first height of the distal body, the second width of the distal body less than the first width of the distal body,

wherein at least one of the distal outer tube and the inner tube comprises a clamp having a closed position in which the clamp closes around the pull wire and an open position in which the clamp is open with respect to the pull wire,

wherein, when the clamp is in the open and closed position, the inner tube is attached to the distal outer tube and moves along with the distal outer tube in the lengthwise direction,

wherein, at least when the clamp is in the closed position, the proximal outer tube is configured to move proximally for a pre-determined distance relative to the inner tube, distal outer tube, the pull wire and the distal body in the lengthwise direction,

wherein, at least when the clamp is in the closed position, moving the proximal outer tube proximally relative to the distal outer tube, the inner tube, the pull wire and the distal body causes the proximal outer tube slot to move proximally relative to the fin and causes the spring to move from a relaxed length to a compressed length.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein, when the clamp is in the closed position, rotating the proximal outer tube about the proximal outer tube length in a clockwise and counterclockwise direction is configured to rotate the distal outer tube, the pull wire and the distal body.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein, when the clamp is in the open position, rotating the proximal outer tube about the proximal outer tube length in a clockwise and counterclockwise direction is configured to rotate the distal outer tube but neither the pull wire nor the distal body.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein, when the clamp is in the open position, the proximal outer tube is configured to move proximally for a pre-determined distance relative to at least the inner tube and the distal outer tube in the lengthwise direction.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein, when the clamp is in the open position, the proximal outer tube, the inner tube, and the distal outer tube are freely slideable over the pull wire in the proximal and distal directions.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the system comprises a relaxed position in which the proximal outer tube distal end abuts against the distal outer tube proximal end and in which the spring is the relaxed length and a second position in which the distal end of the proximal outer tube does not abut the proximal end of the distal outer tube and in which the spring is the compressed length.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the proximal outer tube exterior comprises indicia adjacent to the slot.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the proximal outer tube exterior comprises two handle flanges comprising grooves located on opposite sides of the proximal outer tube exterior.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the handle flanges have a proximal end and a distal end and further wherein the handle flanges extend laterally from the proximal outer tube to a greater extent at the proximal end of the handle flanges as compared to the distal end of the handle flanges.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the inner tube comprises an inner tube height and an inner tube width, and further wherein the inner tube distal end comprises a tapered portion in which the inner tube height and width decrease at the inner tube distal end.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the distal outer tube interior and the inner tube comprise mating threads, wherein moving the inner tube threads along the distal outer tube interior threads in a first direction moves the clamp to the closed position and further wherein moving the inner tube threads along the distal outer tube interior threads in a second direction moves the clamp to the open position.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the slot proximal end is at the proximal end of the proximal outer tube.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the inner tube is comprised of a rod and a collar enveloping the rod and further wherein the collar comprises the fin.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein the slot length is less than the proximal outer tube length.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein the proximal outer tube distal end, the distal outer tube proximal end, and the inner tube distal end are open and the pull wire extends through at least the inner tube open distal end.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the proximal outer tube interior is hollow, the proximal outer tube proximal end is open, the distal outer tube interior is hollow, the inner tube interior is hollow, the distal outer tube distal end is open and the inner tube proximal end is open.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the pull wire proximal end is proximal to the proximal outer tube open proximal end, and further wherein the pull wire extends through the inner tube hollow interior, the inner tube open proximal end, the distal outer tube open proximal end, the distal outer tube open distal end, the distal outer tube hollow interior, the proximal outer tube open distal end, the proximal outer tube hollow interior, and the proximal outer tube open proximal end.

18. A method of removing a blood clot from a blood vessel of a human the method comprising the steps of:

a) providing the system of claim 1 ;

b) positioning a catheter comprising the distal body in the blood vessel;

c) deploying the distal body from the catheter and allowing the height and width of the distal body to increase;

d) capturing the blood clot with the distal body; and

e) moving the distal body proximally out of the blood vessel by grasping and pulling proximally on the proximal outer tube.

19. The method claim 18 further comprising the step of rotating the distal body in the blood vessel by rotating the proximal outer tube.