New Devices and Techniques for Thrombectomy of Arteries and Grafts

An arterial embolus is an obstructive segment of material which travels along the bloodstream until lodging in an artery which is too small in diameter to permit its passage. The embolus will halt flow of oxygenating blood to all tissue beyond the point of obstruction. Blood distal to the obstruction will stagnate and thrombose - or clot in place, effectively propagating the obstructive material along the artery. Arterial embolism poses a threat to both life and limb and prior to the mid-1960s was difficult for surgeons to treat because there was no simple and effective means to remove the embolus and associated distal thrombus.