Devices for removing clot material from a blood vessel lumen and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. A clot retrieving device may include, for example, an elongated shaft, a capture structure having a proximal portion and a distal portion, and a cover having a first portion coupled to the elongated shaft and a second portion extending from the first portion. The cover may have an inverted configuration in which the capture structure is at least partially ensheathed within the first portion of the cover and the second portion of the cover extends distally from the first portion. In the inverted configuration, the second portion may have (a) a first region distal to a distal terminus of the capture structure, the first region tapering radially inwardly in a distal direction, and (b) a second region extending distally and radially outwardly from the first region.

Rolling tractor tube mechanical thrombectomy apparatuses that may be deployed from out of a catheter in situ are described herein. These apparatuses may be delivered out of a catheter from a collapsed delivery configuration within the catheter to a deployed configuration out of the catheter, in which the same catheter is re-inserted between a tubular tractor and an elongate puller. In particular, any of these methods and apparatuses may be adapted to work with a tractor tube having an open end that is biased open, including using an annular bias.

A rapid exchange (RX) catheter may provide a proximal seal against a guide catheter inner lumen so that aspiration may be applied through a guide catheter. The catheter may include an exit port that defines a transfer port for aspiration and may enable minimal frictional engagement with the guide catheter proximal of the exit port. Aspiration can be applied to the lumen of the guide catheter and may be directed to and effective at the tip of the RX aspiration catheter. A tip of the RX catheter may facilitate aspiration and retrieval of the clot by expanding under load and can also partially or fully occlude the vessel.

Mechanical thrombectomy apparatuses including an inverting, rolling conveyor region (tractor) at the distal end that are configured to grab and remove thrombus material. In particular, described herein are mechanical thrombectomy apparatuses that are adapted to prevent premature deployment of the tractor, e.g., by including a tractor hold (e.g., a housing, a lock, a clamp, etc.) or the like to secure the outer end of the tractor against and/or relative to the elongate inversion support.

An everting balloon system is disclosed that can be used for biopsy within a body of a patient or animal. The everting balloon system can be used to access a bodily cavity or vessel for tissue specimen collection at specific bodily locations. The everting catheter system described simplifies the process of tissue biopsy.

An invaginating device includes an inner elongate member and an outer flexible tube with invaginated axial ends. The outer flexible tube is: disposed at a first axial end of the inner elongate member; concentric with the inner elongate member; sized to provide a radial gap there between; sealably connected at the axial ends of the outer flexible tube to the inner elongate member, with the axial spacing between such sealed axial ends being less than the axial length of the outer tube; and extendable to protrude from the first axial end of the inner elongate member and retractable to reduce such protrusion from the first axial end of the inner elongate member. Fluid contained within the radial gap defined between the inner elongate member and the outer flexible tube is either pressurized or a non-compressible fluid. An actuator is: movable relative to the inner elongate member; and engageable with the outer flexible tube to extend the outer flexible tube relative to the first axial end of the inner elongate member.

Everting balloon systems and methods for using the same are disclosed herein. The systems can be configured to access and dilate body lumen and cavities. For example, the systems can be used to dilate the cervix and access the uterine cavity. The systems can also be used to occlude the cervix. The systems can also be used to occlude the urethra.

Devices and methods for securing a cover of a retrieval device while the retrieval device is resheathed to a more proximal position within a delivery sheath are disclosed herein. A retrieval device may include, for example, a securing element configured to grip the cover when the retrieval device is pulled proximally, to thereby secure the cover. A method of positioning the retrieval device may include, for example: (a) advancing the retrieval device distally through a delivery sheath to a partially deployed state while the securing element is in a first state, and (b) retracting the clot retrieval proximally from the partially deployed state while the securing element is in a second state that grips the cover to secure the cover.

A retractor/protector suitable for use in a surgical incision or a natural orifice comprises a longitudinal axis defining an instrument access channel extending from a proximal end to a distal end; a flexible outer ring; an inner ring; a flexible sheath extending between the outer ring and the inner ring; and at least one rigid segment adapted to attach to the flexible outer ring to thereby increase the rigidity of the outer ring. Embodiments of the retractor/protector are described that have interlocking and non-interlocking rigid segments. Embodiments are also described that have bases that insert into or under the flexible outer ring in addition to or in lieu of rigid segments to increase rigidity and/or provide support for a detachable cap.

Methods and devices for performing minimally invasive procedures useful for Fallopian tube diagnostics are disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the proximal os of the Fallopian tube is accessed via an intrauterine approach; an introducer catheter is advanced to cannulate and form a fluid tight seal with the proximal os of the Fallopian tube; a second catheter inside the introducer catheter is provided to track the length of the Fallopian tube and out into the abdominal cavity; a balloon at the end of the second catheter is inflated and the second catheter is retracted until the balloon seals the distal os of the Fallopian tube; irrigation is performed substantially over the length of the Fallopian tube; and the irrigation fluid is recovered for cytology or cell analysis.