Clot removal methods and devices with multiple independently controllable elements

Abstract

A retriever device for removal of unwanted material from a vessel in a patient's body comprising a retriever sub-system and an aspiration sub-system. The retriever sub-system comprising a delivery catheter and a delivery wire having first and second expandable bodies disposed thereon that are adapted to expand from a pre-expansion configuration to an expanded configuration. The second expandable body is further adapted to slidably translate along the delivery wire in a distal direction toward the first expandable body when the second expandable body is released from the delivery wire, whereby, when the first expandable body is disposed on a distal side of at least a first portion of the unwanted material in the vessel and the second expandable body is disposed on a proximal side of the first portion of the unwanted material, the first expandable body and the second expandable body surround and contain the first portion of the unwanted material between the first expandable body and the second expandable body. The aspiration sub-system is adapted to remove at least a second portion of the unwanted material from the vessel. The aspiration sub-system also includes a pressure sensor adapted to monitor internal vessel pressure proximate an internal region of the vessel.