fig1 illustrates an embolic coil retrieval system 10 which includes a sheath 12 , an actuator wire 14 , and an embolic coil retriever 16 . the sheath 12 is approximately 60 inches in length and is preferably formed of a polymer material with a durometer in the range of about 50 d and 80 d . the outside diameter of the sheath 12 is about 0 . 038 inches while the lumen 18 of the sheath 12 has a diameter of approximately 0 . 021 inches . the actuator wire 14 is approximately 70 inches in length and is preferably made from a metallic material . the diameter of the actuator wire 14 is less than the diameter of the lumen 18 of the sheath 12 so that the actuator wire 14 may slide within the lumen 18 of the sheath 12 . the embolic coil retriever 16 is laser cut from a nickel - titanium alloy tube and is attached to the distal end 20 of the actuator wire 14 . fig2 illustrates the embolic coil retriever 16 in a normally open configuration . the embolic coil retriever 16 includes a cylindrical member 22 with a lumen 24 ( not shown ), a proximal section 26 , and distal section 28 . the cylindrical member 22 is approximately 0 . 040 inches in length and is preferably formed from a nickel - titanium alloy . the outside diameter of the cylindrical member 22 is about 0 . 018 inches while the diameter of the lumen 24 is approximately 0 . 012 inches . there are attachment holes 30 in the wall 32 of the cylindrical member 22 which allow the distal end 20 of the actuator wire 14 to be attached within the lumen 24 of the cylindrical member 22 . attached to the distal section 28 of the cylindrical member 22 is an elongated tubular member 34 which is approximately 0 . 12 inches in length and is also preferably made from a nickel - titanium alloy . the outside diameter of the elongated tubular member 34 and the diameter of the lumen 36 ( not shown ) of the tubular member 34 are generally the same as the cylindrical member 22 . a jaw member 38 is formed from the elongated tubular member 24 . preferably , the jaw member 38 is laser cut from the elongated tubular member 34 . the jaw member 38 includes a first jaw 40 , a second jaw 42 , and a third jaw 44 where each jaw 40 , 42 , and 44 takes the form of a longitudinal portion of the elongated tubular member 34 . each jaw 40 , 42 , and 44 has a distal end 48 , a proximal end 50 , a first longitudinal edge 52 , and a second longitudinal edge 54 . the distal ends 48 of the jaws 40 , 42 , and 44 are biased outwardly such that the distal ends 48 are approximately 0 . 008 inches from the longitudinal axis of the elongated tubular member 34 . the first jaw 40 , second jaw 42 , and third jaw 44 include longitudinal legs 56 having a proximal end 58 and a distal end 60 . the proximal ends 58 of the longitudinal legs 56 are attached to the distal ends 48 of the jaws 40 , 42 , and 44 . the longitudinal legs 56 are approximately 0 . 002 inches in length and may include a radiopaque marker 62 for use during fluoroscopic visualization . preferably , the longitudinal legs 56 are laser cut from the elongated tubular member 34 . attached to the first longitudinal edges 52 and second longitudinal edges 54 of the jaws 40 , 42 , and 44 are teeth 66 . these teeth 66 are described in more detail in the description of fig4 . fig3 illustrates the embolic coil retriever 16 in a closed configuration . the overall length of the embolic coil retriever 16 in the closed position is approximately 0 . 16 inches . the cylindrical member 22 includes attachment holes 30 ( one shown ) for the actuator wire 14 . the elongated tubular member 34 which takes the form of a jaw member 38 is attached to the distal section 28 of the cylindrical member 22 . the jaw member 38 includes a first jaw 40 , a second jaw 42 , and a third jaw 44 . as can be appreciated , each jaw 40 , 42 , and 44 takes the form of a longitudinal portion of the elongated tubular member 34 . at the distal ends 48 of the jaws 40 , 42 , and 44 , longitudinal legs 56 are attached which may include radiopaque markers 62 . each jaw 40 , 42 , and 44 of the jaw member 38 includes teeth 66 attached to the first longitudinal edge 52 and second longitudinal edge 54 . this configuration of the teeth 66 is described below . fig4 illustrates the teeth 66 of the embolic coil retriever 16 . the teeth 66 generally take the form of triangular members each having a base 68 attached to a longitudinal edge 52 and 54 of a jaw 40 , 42 , and 44 . preferably , the teeth 66 are laser cut from the elongated tubular member 34 . the teeth 66 may take the form of major teeth 70 which are generally obtuse triangular members having an obtuse angle 74 and a base 76 . the base 76 of each major tooth 70 has a proximal end 78 and a distal end 80 . the obtuse angle 74 of each major tooth 70 is located at the proximal end 78 of the base 76 . the teeth 66 may also take the form of minor teeth 82 which are generally acute triangular members having a base 86 . the base 86 of each minor tooth 82 is attached to a longitudinal edge 52 and 54 of a jaw 40 , 42 , and 44 . the configuration of the teeth 66 shown in fig4 includes a combination of major teeth 70 and minor teeth 82 . there is a pattern of alternating major teeth 70 and minor teeth 82 along the longitudinal edges 52 and 54 of each jaw 40 , 42 , and 44 . in addition , each major tooth 70 is generally aligned with a minor tooth 82 on an adjacent longitudinal edge 52 and 54 of an adjacent jaw 40 , 42 , and 44 , and each minor tooth 82 is generally aligned with a major tooth 70 on an adjacent longitudinal edge 52 and 54 of an adjacent jaw 40 , 42 , and 44 . this pattern forms a plurality of pockets 88 which are gaps between the major teeth 70 and the minor teeth 82 on the longitudinal edges 52 and 54 of the jaws 40 , 42 , and 44 . each pocket 88 is approximately 0 . 015 inches wide and 0 . 015 inches tall . however , the size of the pocket 88 may be varied so as to generally match the size of the pockets 88 with the size of the embolic coil 90 being retrieved . fig5 through 8 illustrate a preferred method of using the embolic coil retrieval system 10 to capture an embolic coil 90 . in fig5 , the embolic coil retrieval system 10 is inserted into the vasculature 92 of the human body . the embolic coil retriever 16 is attached to the actuator wire 14 and is disposed within the lumen 18 of the sheath 12 . the embolic coil retrieval system 10 is moved distally towards the embolic coil 90 to be retrieved . fig6 shows the actuator wire 14 being moved distally causing the embolic coil retriever 16 to exit the lumen 18 of the sheath 12 thereby causing the jaws 40 , 42 , and 44 of the jaw member 38 of the embolic coil retriever 16 to assume a normally open position . the jaw member 38 in the open position is aligned with the embolic coil 90 to be retrieved . in fig7 , the sheath 12 is moved distally causing the jaws 40 , 42 , and 44 of the embolic coil retriever 16 to assume a closed position around the embolic coil 90 . the embolic coil 90 is captured within the pockets 88 formed by the gaps between the alternating major teeth 70 and minor teeth 82 on the jaws 40 , 42 , and 44 . fig8 illustrates the embolic coil retrieval system 10 and the embolic coil 90 being removed from the vasculature of the body . as the embolic coil retrieval system 10 is moved proximally , the embolic coil 90 is held within the pockets 88 and is wedged behind major teeth 70 thereby preventing the embolic coil 90 from falling out of the jaw member 38 . a novel system has been disclosed in which an embolic coil retrieval system is introduced into the vasculature of the human body for retrieval of an embolic coil . although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described , it is to be understood that various modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention . for example , there may be variations to the jaw member of the embolic coil retriever . the jaw member may include four or more jaws formed from an elongated tubular member . each jaw may be a longitudinal portion of the elongated tubular member . in another alternative construction , the embolic coil retriever may be covered with a high density metallic coating , like gold . this coating may provide enhanced reflection during fluoroscopic visualization . in still another alternative construction , the pockets formed by the major teeth and minor teeth along the longitudinal edges of the jaws may vary in size . for example , at the distal end of the jaw member the pockets may be small for capturing small embolic coils , but pockets may gradually become larger towards the proximal end of the jaw member for capturing larger embolic coils . this construction would allow physicians to use one jaw member configuration for capturing various sized embolic coils . finally , the embolic coil retriever may be used for capturing other medical devices such as dilation balloons or stents . these and other modifications would be apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art to which this invention relates and are intended to be within the scope of the claims which follow .
an embolic coil retrieval system for retrieving or repositioning an embolic coil within the vasculature of the human body which is comprised of a very small embolic coil retriever having a jaw member with major and minor teeth which form pockets for grasping an embolic coil when the jaw member is closed .