Clot retrieval device

1. A device for removing body material from a patient's body comprising a shaft, the shaft having a proximal portion and a distal portion and a longitudinal axis, an adhesive carrying surface extending at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis and facing the proximal portion of the shaft, and being movable with respect to the shaft from an insertion position to an engagement position and having an adhesive exposed on at least a portion of an inner surface, the adhesive extending along a length of the adhesive carrying surface and having sufficient stickiness to adhere to the body material to remove the material when the shaft is moved in a proximal direction so the adhesive carrying surface moves in a proximal direction to come into contact with the body material and the shaft is removed from the patient's body.

2. A device for removing body material from a patient's body as recited in claim 1 , wherein the adhesive carrying surface comprises a balloon.

3. A device for removing body material from a patient's body as recited in claim 2 , wherein the balloon has a distal and proximal surface, and the proximal surface of the balloon contains the adhesive to adhere to a distal portion of the body material to be removed.

4. A device for removing body material from a patient's body as recited in claim 1 , wherein the adhesive carrying surface comprise first and second arms, the adhesive being on at least a portion of an inner surface of the arms.

5. A device for removing body material from a patient's body as recited in claim 4 , wherein the arms are formed from a shape memory tube cut into sections to form the arms.

6. A device for removing body material from a patient's body as recited in claim 5 , further comprising teeth on at least one of the arms.

7. A device for removing body material from a patient's body as recited in claim 1 , wherein the adhesive carrying surface comprises at least one arm extending from the shaft, the arm movable with respect to the shaft from a first open position more in line with the shaft to a second position at a greater angle to the shaft to engage body material.

8. A device for removing body material from a patient's body as recited in claim 7 , wherein the shaft has a proximal end closer to the user and a distal end further from the user, and the arm extends toward the proximal end.

9. A device for removing body material from a patient's body as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a mesh positioned distal of the adhesive carrying surface, the mesh expandable to engage the body material.

10. A device for removing body material from a patient's body as recited in claim 9 , wherein at least a portion of the region between the mesh and the adhesive carrying surface has an adhesive material thereon.

11. A device for removing body material from a patient's body as recited in claim 1 , wherein the adhesive carrying material comprises an expandable mesh.

12. A device for removing material from a patient's body comprising an elongated member having a longitudinal axis defining a longitudinal dimension extending from a proximal portion to a distal portion, a first transverse dimension transverse to the longitudinal axis, and a cutout formed therein, the cutout forming a cutout area having a second transverse dimension transverse to the longitudinal axis and being less than the first transverse dimension, and an adhesive exposed on at least a portion of an outer surface of the cutout area, the adhesive having sufficient stickiness to adhere to a body material to remove the body material when the shaft is removed from the patient's body.

13. A device for removing body material from a patient's body as recited in claim 12 , wherein the elongated member is a guidewire or hypotube.

14. A device for removing body material from a patient's body as recited in claim 12 , wherein the elongated member is a catheter.

15. A device for removing body material from a patient's body as recited in claim 14 , further comprising a first spacer extending from the elongated member to keep the adhesive out of contact with the vessel wall.

16. A device for removing body material from a patient's body as recited in claim 15 , further comprising a second spacer spaced distally from the first spacer, the adhesive positioned between the first and second spacers, and the first and second spacers have a transverse dimension larger than the first transverse dimension of the elongated member proximal and distal of the first and second spacers.

17. A device for removing body material from a patient's body as recited in claim 12 , wherein the elongated member comprises a balloon, the cutout forming a concave surface in the balloon to support the adhesive below an outer surface of the balloon.