DEVICE AND METHOD FOR TREATING VASCULAR OCCLUSION

1 . A method for removing occlusive material from a peripheral blood vessel in a patient, the method comprising:

advancing an introducer sheath through a peripheral vessel and toward occlusive material;

positioning a distal end of the introducer sheath proximal of the occlusive material, wherein a proximal capture member is contained within a lumen of the introducer sheath, the proximal capture member having a tapered proximal end portion and an open distal end sized to engage an inner wall of the vein;

distally advancing an occlusion removal device from the lumen of the introducer sheath and through the occlusive material, wherein the occlusion removal device is contained within a distal end portion of the catheter, wherein the occlusion removal device comprises a first portion and a second portion extending from the first portion, and wherein the second portion comprises a braided material;

retracting the catheter for releasing the occlusion removal device and allowing the occlusion removal device to self-expand such that the first portion is positioned distally from the occlusive material and at least a portion of the second portion extends distally from the first portion;

withdrawing the occlusion removal device through the vessel such that the first portion of the occlusion removal device engages the occlusive material and then the braided material of the second portion of the occlusion removal device contains at least a portion of the occlusive material;

further withdrawing the occlusion removal device through the vessel with at least a portion of the occlusive material contained in the braided material of the second portion of the occlusion removal device and through a central opening in the proximal capture member and into the lumen of the sheath; and

collapsing the proximal capture member into the lumen of the sheath.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the occlusion removal device comprises a tubular member.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the occlusion removal device comprises a ringed-shape member configured to expand to an inner surface of the peripheral vessel and the second portion of the occlusion removal device comprises a braided mesh extending from the ring-shaped member, and wherein the braided mesh is configured to contain at least a portion of the occlusive material after the ring-shaped member passes through the occlusive material.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the first portion and the second portion of the occlusion removal device form a continuous structure.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the occlusion removal device comprises a tubular member that is everted to form a distal end of the second portion of the occlusion removal device.

6 . The method of claim 5 , further comprising a pusher coupled to a periphery of the tubular member.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein at least one tether extends between the pusher and the periphery of the tubular member.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the occlusion removal device comprises a scaffold configured to expand to an inner surface of the peripheral vessel and the second portion of the occlusion device comprises a braided mesh configured to contain at least a portion of the occlusive material after the scaffold passes through the occlusive material.

9 . A method for removal of an occlusive thrombus from a peripheral blood vessel for improving blood flow through the blood vessel, the method comprising:

advancing an introducer sheath through a peripheral blood vessel;

positioning a distal end of the introducer sheath proximal of an occlusive thrombus, wherein a proximal capture member is contained within a lumen of the introducer sheath, the proximal capture member formed with a mesh structure having a tapered proximal end portion and an open distal end, wherein the open distal end is shaped to conform to an inner wall of the peripheral blood vessel when in an expanded configuration;

advancing an occlusion removal device through the lumen of the introducer sheath and through a central opening in the proximal capture member, wherein the occlusion removal device comprises a tubular member adapted to engage the occlusive thrombus;

deploying at least a portion of the tubular member distal to the occlusive thrombus;

deploying the proximal capture member;

withdrawing the tubular member and thereby engaging the occlusive thrombus such that the tubular member contains at least a portion of the occlusive thrombus;

further withdrawing the tubular member with captured occlusive thrombus through the proximal capture member and collapsing the tubular member into the lumen of the introducer sheath; and

collapsing the proximal capture member into the lumen of the introducer sheath.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein a distal portion of the tubular member is everted relative to a central axis to form an extraction member configured to capture and remove the occlusive thrombus.

11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the tubular member includes a first end portion adapted for engaging an inner surface of the peripheral blood vessel during withdrawal of the tubular member through the peripheral blood vessel.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the first end portion comprises a relatively rigid ring-shaped structure.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the tubular member includes a second end portion configured to define a flow restoration member.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the tubular member everts from the flow restoration member to the extraction member in an expanded state.

15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein a pusher is coupled to a periphery of the flow restoration member.

16 . A method for removing a thrombus from a peripheral blood vessel in a patient's body, the method comprising:

identifying a thrombus in a peripheral blood vessel;

advancing a guidewire through the thrombus

advancing a catheter over the guidewire, wherein a thrombus removal device is contained within a lumen of the catheter, the thrombus removal device comprising a ring-shaped member configured to expand to an inner surface of the peripheral blood vessel and an extraction member extending from the ring-shaped member;

retracting the catheter for allowing the thrombus removal device to self-expand in the peripheral blood vessel such that the ring-shaped member engages the inner surface of the peripheral blood vessel;

pulling the thrombus removal device in a proximal direction such that the ring-shaped member passes along the thrombus and the extraction member captures material from the thrombus and thereby forms a passageway for the flow of blood;

further withdrawing the thrombus removal device through a central opening in a proximal capture member and into a sheath, the proximal capture member comprising a mesh structure having an open distal end sized to conform to an inner wall of the peripheral blood vessel; and

removing the guidewire, the sheath, the proximal capture member, the catheter, and the tubular member from the patient's body, thereby restoring blood flow through the peripheral blood vessel.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the extraction member has a closed distal end for capturing and pulling thrombus material into the sheath.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the ring-shaped member and the extraction member form a continuous structure.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the closed distal end of the extraction member comprises an everted portion.

20 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the ring-shaped member is a self-expanding structure and the extraction member is a mesh structure extending distally therefrom.