The KinG Stent Retriever, formally the INVAMED KinG Intracranial Revascularization Device, is engineered to capture and remove thrombus from large intracranial vessels in patients presenting with acute ischemic stroke due to large vessel occlusion (LVO). This overview summarizes the device's design rationale and intended use for clinicians evaluating neurointerventional stroke tools.
What Is the KinG Stent Retriever Designed to Do?
KinG is a stent-based clot retrieval system intended to restore cerebral blood flow by engaging and extracting thrombus from major intracranial arteries. It incorporates an overlapping stent architecture designed to maximize contact between the device struts and the clot surface, which is intended to support more consistent clot integration during retrieval.
The device is designed for use in vessels including the internal carotid artery (ICA), the M1 and M2 segments of the middle cerebral artery, and the basilar and vertebral arteries — the same major vessels most commonly implicated in LVO stroke.
What Are the Key Design Features?
Several structural characteristics distinguish the overlapping-cell approach used in KinG's design:
- Multi-layer stent struts — intended to increase surface contact with thrombus, which is designed to improve retrieval consistency with large or organized clots
- Overlapping cell geometry — designed to help the stent conform closely to the tortuous geometry typical of intracranial arteries, supporting stable wall apposition during deployment and retrieval
- Self-expanding mesh construction — deployed through a microcatheter across the occlusion, where the device integrates with the thrombus before withdrawal
These features are intended to support the fundamental stent retriever mechanism: deployment across the clot, a short integration period, and controlled withdrawal to extract the thrombus while restoring perfusion.
How Does KinG Fit Into the Thrombectomy Workflow?
In a typical procedural workflow, a physician establishes vascular access, advances a guide catheter and microcatheter to the level of the occlusion, and then deploys the stent retriever across the clot under fluoroscopic guidance. KinG is designed to be used within this established mechanical thrombectomy workflow, either as a standalone stent retriever technique or in combination with an aspiration catheter, depending on physician preference and clot characteristics.
Device selection and technique are determined by the treating neurointerventionalist based on vessel anatomy, clot burden, and institutional protocol.
Regulatory and Use Considerations
Device availability and regulatory status vary by country. Please contact INVAMED or your authorized local distributor for current regulatory information applicable to your region.
All endovascular thrombectomy procedures carry inherent risks, including vessel injury, distal embolization, or incomplete clot removal, and device selection should reflect an individualized assessment of the patient and occlusion.
Frequently Asked Questions
What vessels is the KinG stent retriever designed for?
KinG is designed for use in major intracranial vessels commonly affected by large vessel occlusion, including the internal carotid artery, M1/M2 segments of the middle cerebral artery, and the basilar and vertebral arteries.
Can KinG be used together with aspiration thrombectomy?
Combined stent retriever and aspiration techniques are used by many neurointerventional teams and may be considered based on clot characteristics and physician preference. Technique selection is determined by the treating physician.
Is the KinG stent retriever approved for use worldwide?
Related INVAMED Resources
- Neurovascular Interventions — INVAMED's full stroke thrombectomy and neurovascular device portfolio
- Stent Retriever vs. Aspiration Thrombectomy — a comparison of mechanical thrombectomy techniques
- Contact INVAMED — request technical information about the KinG device
Medical Disclaimer: This article is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendation. It is not a substitute for consultation with a qualified healthcare professional. Product indications, availability, and regulatory status vary by country. Always refer to the official Instructions for Use (IFU) and consult a licensed physician for guidance specific to your situation. INVAMED devices are intended for use by trained healthcare professionals.