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A foreign body retrieval system includes a pusher and a retrieval element connected to the distal end of the pusher. The retrieval element includes one or more gripping members that are movable between a retracted position and an extended position. In the extended position, the gripping members exte

A foreign body retrieval system includes a pusher and a retrieval element connected to the distal end of the pusher. The retrieval element includes one or more gripping members that are movable between a retracted position and an extended position. In the extended position, the gripping members extend in a radial and outward direction from the retrieval element in order to snag and capture a foreign body.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A retrieval system for retrieving an embolic coil having a plurality of generally circumferential windings from a patient, comprising: an elongated flexible, non-expandable pusher having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion and a lumen extending therethrough;a retrieval element located at

1. A retrieval system for retrieving an embolic coil having a plurality of generally circumferential windings from a patient, comprising: an elongated flexible, non-expandable pusher having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion and a lumen extending therethrough;a retrieval element located at the distal end portion of the pusher, the retrieval element being made from a hypotube and including at least one orifice with a gripping member therewithin which is movable between a retracted position and an extended position, the gripping member projecting in a radial and outward direction from the at least one orifice of the retrieval element when the gripping member is in the extended position;said gripping member has a free end and a connected end that is connected to the retrieval element at the orifice, and a gripper at the free end;said gripping member is generally V-shaped, said gripping member having a first arm having the gripper, a second arm and a single elbow therebetween, said gripper having an axially oriented surface spaced radially outwardly from said elbow;said gripping member first arm is oriented radially inwardly in a direction away from the gripper at the free end and toward the elbow, said elbow connects the first arm to the second arm, said second arm is oriented radially outwardly in a direction away from the elbow, said second arm comprising the connected end and being connected to the retrieval element through a living hinge connection at a selected location along the orifice and only at said selected location, said gripping member being movable to cause the gripping member to move into the extended position;the hypotube retrieval element and the gripping member, which includes, in order, the living hinge connection, second arm, elbow, first arm, gripper and axially oriented surface at the free end, are integral with each other in that the gripping member is made by cutting out and bending a portion of the hypotube;a pushrod slidably located within the lumen of the pusher, said pushrod being longitudinally movable between a first position and a second position; andwherein movement of said pushrod from the first position to the second position places the pushrod into contact with the elbow portion of the generally V-shaped gripping member to cause the second arm of the gripping to bend at the living hinge connection, whereby the gripping member moves into the extended position and the gripper axially oriented surface engages and moves a winding of the embolic coil to a location spaced radially outwardly from the elbow whereby the winding of the embolic coil is spaced radially outwardly from an adjacent winding thereby snagging the embolic coil. 2. The retrieval system of claim 1, wherein the gripping member is biased toward the retracted position of the gripper member. 3. The retrieval system of claim 2, wherein the pushrod disengages the gripping member when the pushrod moves from the second position to the first position, causing the biased extension element to move the gripping member toward the retracted position. 4. The retrieval system of claim 2, wherein the retrieval element is made of a shape memory material. 5. The retrieval system of claim 1, wherein the retrieval element is a separate component that is secured to the distal end portion of the pusher. 6. The retrieval system of claim 1, wherein the gripper is generally flush with an outer surface of the retrieval element and the elbow portion is positioned radially inwardly when the gripping member is in the retracted position. 7. The retrieval system of claim 1, wherein the retrieval element is tubularly shaped and includes a plurality of the gripping members, the gripping members being arranged so that the elbow portion of each gripping member is located at a position that is opposite the elbow portion of another gripping member along the retrieval element. 8. The retrieval system of claim 7, wherein the opposing elbow portions engage each other when the gripping member is in the retracted position. 9. The retrieval system of claim 1, wherein said gripping member axially oriented surface is a surface folded over from the first arm. 10. A retrieval system for retrieving an embolic coil having a plurality of generally circumferential windings from a patient, comprising: an elongated flexible pusher having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion and a lumen extending therethrough;a retrieval element being made from a hypotube and located at the distal end portion of the pusher, the retrieval element including a plurality of orifices, each with a gripping member therein, each gripping member being movable between a retracted position and an extended position, each gripping member projecting in a radial and outward direction from the retrieval element when each gripping member is in the extended position;each gripping member having a free end and a connected end that is connected to the retrieval element at the orifice, and a gripper at the free end;each gripping member being biased and generally V-shaped biasing the gripping member toward the retracted position, each said gripping member having a first arm having the gripper, a second arm and a single elbow therebetween, said gripper having an axially oriented surface spaced radially outwardly from said elbow;each said gripping member first arm is oriented radially inwardly in a direction away from the gripper at the free end and toward the elbow, said elbow connects the first arm to the second arm, said second arm is oriented radially outwardly in a direction away from the elbow, said second arm comprising the connected end and being connected to the retrieval element through a living hinge connection at a selected location along a respective orifice and only at said selected location, each said gripping member being movable to cause the gripping member to move into the extended position;the hypotube retrieval element and the gripping member, which includes, in order, the living hinge connection, second arm, elbow, first arm, gripper and axially oriented surface at the free end, are integral with each other in that the gripping member is made by cutting out and bending a portion of the hypotube;a pushrod slidably located within the lumen of the pusher, said pushrod being longitudinally movable between a first position and a second position; andwherein movement of said pushrod from the first position to the second position contacts the pushrod with the elbow portion of each said generally V-shaped spring-biased extension element to cause the second arm of the gripping member to bend at the living hinge connection, whereby the plurality of gripping members move into the extended position, and wherein each axially oriented surface engages and moves a winding of the embolic coil to a location spaced radially outwardly from the elbow whereby the winding of the embolic coil is spaced radially outwardly from an adjacent winding thereby snagging the embolic coil. 11. The retrieval system of claim 10, wherein the pushrod disengages the biased gripping member when the pushrod moves from the second position to the first position, causing the gripping member to move back toward the retracted position. 12. The retrieval system of claim 10, wherein said each gripping member axially oriented surface is a surface folded over from the first arm. 13. A method for retrieving an embolic coil having a plurality of generally circumferential windings from a vessel within a patient, comprising: providing a retrieval system comprising an elongated flexible, non-expandable pusher having a retrieval element, the retrieval element being made from a hypotube and including at least one orifice with a gripping member capable of moving between a retracted position and an expanded position;providing the gripping member so as to have a free end and a connected end that is connected to the retrieval element at the at least one orifice and a gripper at the free end, each gripping member being generally V-shaped including a first arm and a second arm with a single elbow therebetween such that the first arm is oriented radially inwardly away from the free end and toward the elbow, the elbow connects the first arm and the second arm, the second arm is oriented radially outwardly in a direction away from the elbow, and the second arm comprising the connected end and being connected to the retrieval element through a living hinge connection at a selected location along the orifice and only at this selected location, wherein in the expanded position the gripping member extends in a radial and outward direction from the retrieval element;the gripping member being integrally formed by cutting and bending the retrieval element hypotube into the gripping member including, in order, the living hinge connection, second arm, elbow, first arm, and a gripper axially oriented surface at the free end spaced radially from the elbow;manipulating the pusher to place the retrieval element adjacent an embolic coil located in a vessel of the body;inserting the retrieval element into the embolic coil;moving the gripping member from the retracted position to the extended position at which the gripper extends radially and outwardly beyond the orifice and the retrieval element including bending the second arm at the living hinge connection to engage and move a winding of the embolic coil to a location spaced radially outwardly from the elbow and from an adjacent winding of the embolic coil thereby snagging the embolic coil; andremoving the retrieval element and the snagged embolic coil from the vessel. 14. The method according to claim 13, wherein manipulating the pusher comprises guiding the pusher through a guide catheter to place the retrieval element adjacent the embolic coil. 15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the gripping member biases the gripping member to the retracted position, said gripping member being movable to cause the gripping member to move into the extended position; the pusher including a pushrod slidably movable within the pusher, the pushrod being movable between a first position and a second position wherein movement of the pushrod from the first position to the second position contacts the pushrod and the gripping member to cause the gripping member to move into the extended position; andmoving the gripping member from the retracted position to the extended position comprises moving the pushrod from the first position to the second position so that said pushrod contacts a spring element to cause the gripping member to move into the extended position. 16. The method according to claim 15, wherein said moving of the gripping member includes camming action between a cam surface of the pushrod and a cam follower surface of the gripping member, said camming action effecting outwardly directed radial movement of the gripping member into engagement with the embolic coil. 17. The method according to claim 13, wherein providing the gripper member includes bending the first arm to form the axially oriented surface.