Importance

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Abstract

An inflatable balloon-type catheter (20) for use in performing an embolectomy, includes an elongated catheter (21) having a distal end (22) adapted to be inserted through an incision into a patient's blood vessel (V). A plurality of fingers (24) having first ends (25) are mounted on the distal marginal end portion of the catheter in circumferentially-spaced relation to one another. Each of the fingers has a second end (26) arranged farther from the catheter distal end than the finger first ends. Each of the fingers is configured as a leaf-spring and has an unbiased radius of curvature such that the finger second ends are normally spaced farther radially outwardly than the finger first ends. A balloon (28) surrounds the fingers and is operatively secured to the catheter so that the fingers are arranged with an inflatable chamber (29) defined between the catheter and the balloon. A syringe or squeeze bulb (30) is arranged to selectively vary the absolute pressure within the chamber so as to selectively inflate and deflate the balloon. When inflated, the balloon forms a cup-shaped recess arranged to face the embolism, and to capture portions of the severed embolism (E). In use, the improved apparatus provides a novel method of performing an embolectomy.

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First Claim