Medical retrieval baskets

Claim 2

A medical device, comprising: a sheath having a proximal end and a distal end; a basket for removing material from a body, the basket having a distal end, a proximal end, a longitudinal axis, a collapsed position where the basket is enclosed within the sheath, and an expanded position where the basket extends from the distal end of the sheath, and wherein the basket includes at least two struts each comprised of two legs united in a paired configuration, the struts twisting in a spiral configuration about the longitudinal axis of the basket, and wherein the two legs of each strut are permanently connected at multiple points along the longitudinal axis of the basket, wherein the multiple points include at least a first point, a second point, and a third point, wherein the third point is located between the first point and the second point along the longitudinal axis, and the two legs are unconnected between the first point and the third point and between the second point and the third point.

Claim 3

The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the basket includes a distal basket portion and a proximal basket portion, the distal basket portion including at least three struts, and wherein the struts of the distal basket portion merge to form two struts in the proximal basket portion.

Claim 4

The medical device of claim 2 , wherein each of the two struts of the proximal basket portion is wider than each of the at least three struts of the distal basket portion.

Claim 5

The medical device of claim 2 , wherein the struts of the distal basket portion merge at a basket point midway between the distal and proximal ends of the basket.

Claim 6

The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the basket is formed by cuts made in a hollow tube.

Claim 7

The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the two legs of each strut are comprised of a shape memory material and exhibit substantially identical shapes.

Claim 8

The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the two legs of each strut are permanently connected through welds, solder, or adhesives.

Claim 9

The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the legs are comprised of individual metal wires.

Claim 10

The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the two legs of each strut are permanently connected at multiple points between the distal and proximal ends of the basket, so that the two legs do not separate at the multiple points in all operational states.

Claim 11

A medical device, comprising: a sheath having a proximal end and a distal end; a basket for removing material from a body, the basket having a distal end, a proximal end, a longitudinal axis, a collapsed position where the basket is enclosed within the sheath, an expanded position where the basket extends from the distal end of the sheath, and at least two struts extending between the distal and proximal basket ends, each of the struts having a first portion extending from the proximal end of the basket and twisting in a first spiral direction around the longitudinal axis, and a second portion extending between the first portion and the distal end of the basket, the second portion twisting in a second spiral direction around the longitudinal axis, the second spiral direction being opposite of the first spiral direction, wherein the basket includes a distal basket portion and a proximal basket portion, the distal basket portion including at least three struts that merge to form two struts in the proximal basket portion, wherein each strut is comprised of two legs united in a paired configuration, wherein the two legs of each strut are permanently connected at multiple points along the longitudinal axis of the basket, wherein the multiple points include at least a first point, a second point, and a third point, wherein the third point is located between the first point and the second point along the longitudinal axis, and the two legs are unconnected between the first point and the third point and between the second point and the third point.

Claim 12

A medical device, comprising: a sheath having a proximal end and a distal end; a basket for removing material from a body, the basket having a distal end, a proximal end, a longitudinal axis, a collapsed position where the basket is enclosed within the sheath, an expanded position where the basket extends from the distal end of the sheath, and at least two struts extending between the distal and proximal basket ends, each of the struts having a first portion extending from the proximal end of the basket and twisting in a first spiral direction around the longitudinal axis, and a second portion extending between the first portion and the distal end of the basket, the second portion twisting in a second spiral direction around the longitudinal axis, the second spiral direction being opposite of the first spiral direction, wherein the basket includes a distal basket portion and a proximal basket portion, the distal basket portion including at least three struts that merge to form two struts in the proximal basket portion, wherein each strut is comprised of two legs united in a paired configuration, wherein the two legs of each strut are permanently connected at multiple points along the longitudinal axis of the basket, wherein the multiple points include at least a first point, a second point, and a third point, wherein the third point is located between the first point and the second point along the longitudinal axis, and the two legs are unconnected between the first point and the third point and between the second point and the third point.

Claim 13

The medical device of claim 10 , wherein each of the two struts of the proximal basket portion is wider than each of the at least three struts of the distal basket portion.

Claim 14

The medical device of claim 10 , wherein the at least three struts of the distal basket portion merge at a basket point midway between the distal and proximal ends of the basket.

Claim 15

The medical device of claim 10 , wherein the basket is formed through cuts made in a hollow tube.

Claim 16

The medical device of claim 10 , wherein all the struts are comprised of individual metal wires.

Claim 17

The medical device of claim 10 , wherein the first portion and the second portion substantially curve around a circumference of the basket as the first portion twists in the first spiral direction and the second portion twists in the second spiral direction.

Claim 18

The medical device of claim 10 , wherein the first portion and the second portion are not parallel.

Claim 19

A medical device, comprising: a sheath having a proximal end and a distal end; a basket for removing material from a body, the basket having a distal end, a proximal end, a longitudinal axis, a collapsed position where the basket is enclosed within the sheath, and an expanded position where the basket extends from the distal end of the sheath, wherein the basket includes at least one strut having a first portion extending from the proximal end of the basket to an intermediate point between the proximal and distal ends of the basket and twisting in a first spiral direction around the longitudinal axis, and a second portion extending distally from the intermediate point and twisting in a second spiral direction around the longitudinal axis, the second spiral direction being opposite of the first spiral direction, wherein the at least one strut is comprised of two legs united in a paired configuration, wherein the two legs of the at least one strut are permanently connected at multiple points along the longitudinal axis of the basket, wherein the multiple points include at least a first point, a second point, and a third point, wherein the third point is located between the first point and the second point along the longitudinal axis, and the two legs are unconnected between the first point and the third point and between the second point and the third point.

Claim 20

A medical device, comprising: a sheath having a proximal end and a distal end; a basket for removing material from a body, the basket having a distal end, a proximal end, a longitudinal axis, a collapsed position where the basket is enclosed within the sheath, and an expanded position where the basket extends from the distal end of the sheath, wherein the basket includes at least one strut having a first portion extending from the proximal end of the basket to an intermediate point between the proximal and distal ends of the basket and twisting in a first spiral direction around the longitudinal axis, and a second portion extending distally from the intermediate point and twisting in a second spiral direction around the longitudinal axis, the second spiral direction being opposite of the first spiral direction, wherein the at least one strut is comprised of two legs united in a paired configuration, wherein the two legs of the at least one strut are permanently connected at multiple points along the longitudinal axis of the basket, wherein the multiple points include at least a first point, a second point, and a third point, wherein the third point is located between the first point and the second point along the longitudinal axis, and the two legs are unconnected between the first point and the third point and between the second point and the third point.

Claim 21

The medical device of claim 17 , wherein the first spiral direction is clockwise and the second spiral direction is counter-clockwise.

Claim 22

The medical device of claim 17 , wherein the at least one strut includes a third portion twisting in the first spiral direction about the longitudinal axis, the second portion being between the first and third portions.

Claim 23

The medical device of claim 17 , wherein the at least one strut includes four struts.

Claim 24

The medical device of claim 17 , wherein the basket includes a distal basket portion and a proximal basket portion, the distal basket portion including at least three struts, and wherein the struts of the distal basket portion merge to form two struts in the proximal basket portion.

Claim 25

The medical device of claim 21 , wherein each of the two struts of the proximal basket portion is wider than each of the at least three struts of the distal basket portion.

Claim 26

The medical device of claim 21 , wherein the at least three struts of the distal basket portion merge at a basket point midway between the distal and proximal ends of the basket.

Claim 27

The medical device of claim 17 , wherein the at least one strut is an individual metal wire.

Claim 28

The medical device of claim 17 , wherein the basket is formed through cuts made in a hollow tube.

Claim 29

The medical device of claim 25 , wherein the cuts form a herringbone pattern.

Claim 30

The medical device of claim 17 , wherein the basket has a substantially asymmetric shape in the expanded position.

Claim 31

The medical device of claim 17 , wherein the first portion and the second portion substantially curve around a circumference of the basket as the first portion twists in the first spiral direction and the second portion twists in the second spiral direction.

Claim 32

The medical device of claim 17 , wherein the first portion and the second portion are not parallel.