This guide offers an educational, technical overview of neurovascular interventions and the device technologies used in this field. Patient eligibility, the treatment window, and device selection are all determined by the treating neurointerventional team using imaging and current criteria. As a medical device manufacturer, INVAMED develops technologies in this area; the information here is educational and not medical advice.
Background: Acute Ischemic Stroke and Intracranial Aneurysm Intervention
Because brain tissue is highly time-sensitive, rapid restoration of flow is central to endovascular stroke care in eligible patients. Aneurysm techniques include packing the sac with detachable coils and redirecting flow across the neck with a densely braided flow diverter so the sac thromboses over time. Mechanical thrombectomy removes the clot with a catheter-based device, and it is used in selected patients alongside or after intravenous thrombolysis where indicated.
Core Technologies and Options
Stent Retriever Thrombectomy. A stent retriever is a self-expanding mesh deployed through a microcatheter across a clot, where it integrates with the thrombus and is then withdrawn to capture and extract it. Restoring flow in a large vessel occlusion is the goal, and the device is designed to engage clot within minutes of deployment. Mechanical Thrombectomy for Stroke. Mechanical thrombectomy encompasses the catheter-based techniques used to physically remove a clot from a blocked cerebral artery. It can restore flow more completely and rapidly than drug therapy alone in appropriately selected large-vessel occlusions. Aspiration and Directional Thrombectomy. Aspiration thrombectomy applies suction through a large-bore catheter advanced to the face of the clot to draw it out, sometimes as a first-line technique. Directional systems are designed to help engage clot in specific orientations within the vessel. Detachable Coil Embolization. Detachable coils are soft platinum-based coils packed into an aneurysm sac to promote clotting and seal the aneurysm from circulation. Controlled detachment lets the operator position and, if needed, reposition a coil before releasing it. Flow Diverter Stents. A flow diverter is a densely braided, low-porosity stent deployed across an aneurysm neck to redirect flow away from the sac while maintaining flow in the parent vessel. Over time the diverted flow is intended to let the aneurysm thrombose and the vessel wall to remodel across the neck. Liquid Embolic Agents. Non-adhesive liquid embolic agents are injected to fill and occlude abnormal vascular channels such as arteriovenous malformations or hypervascular tumors. As the solvent diffuses into blood, the copolymer precipitates from the outer surface inward, forming a solid, non-adhesive cast, with a radiopaque component for fluoroscopic visibility.
Comparing the Approaches
Stent retriever vs Contact aspiration. A stent retriever captures clot in a self-expanding mesh that is withdrawn, while contact aspiration removes clot by applying suction at its face through a large-bore catheter. INVAMED offers both a stent retriever, the KinG device, and aspiration systems within its neurovascular line. Mechanical thrombectomy vs Thrombolysis alone (tPA). Mechanical thrombectomy physically removes a large-vessel clot, whereas intravenous thrombolysis relies on a drug to dissolve it. Thrombolysis has time and eligibility constraints and does not reliably clear large proximal clots on its own. Coiling vs Flow diversion. Coiling packs the aneurysm sac from within to promote thrombosis, while flow diversion reconstructs the parent vessel across the neck to redirect flow away from the sac. INVAMED offers Spider detachable coils and flow diverter stents to cover both strategies.
INVAMED Portfolio in This Area
INVAMED's related devices include: KinG Intracranial Revascularization Device, Spider Intracranial Coil System, Libro Non-Adhesive Embolization Agent, Mantis Directional Thrombectomy System, AngioHAND Thrombus Removal System, InWIRE Neurovascular Guidewire. Detailed specifications for each are provided in the product documentation.
Key Considerations
- Speed to reperfusion is a central factor in stroke thrombectomy, which shapes device readiness and workflow in eligible patients.
- Liquid embolic use requires attention to concentration, radiopacity, and injection control for the target lesion.
- Clot characteristics and vessel tortuosity influence whether a stent retriever, aspiration, or combined technique is chosen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who determines eligibility for thrombectomy?
The treating stroke team determines eligibility using imaging and current criteria; this article is educational and not medical advice.
What are Spider coils made of?
According to INVAMED, Spider Intracranial Coils are made of a platinum-tungsten 92/8 percent alloy and are offered across 2 to 30 mm coil diameters in detachable and pushable configurations.
What is the INVAMED stent retriever called?
INVAMED's stent retriever is the KinG Intracranial Revascularization Device, a self-expanding nitinol device with platinum markers for fluoroscopic visualization.
About INVAMED
Device availability and regulatory status vary by country. Please contact INVAMED or your authorized local distributor for current regulatory information applicable to your region.
Related on INVAMED
- Neurovascular Interventions — product category
- How does a liquid embolic agent treat an AVM?
- What is the first-pass effect in thrombectomy?
- A Clinical Introduction to Detachable Coil Embolization
Important Disclaimer
The information here is provided for educational purposes and to describe device technology; it is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Only a licensed healthcare provider can determine whether a given procedure or device is appropriate for a specific patient. INVAMED products are restricted to use by qualified professionals following the official IFU. Regulatory clearance and labeling differ between regions, and not all products or indications are available in every market.
Reviewed by the INVAMED Medical Affairs team. Content is educational and technical in nature.