Milli-spinner thrombectomy

Yilong Chang, Shuai Wu, Qi Li, Benjamin Pulli, Darren Salmi, Paul Yock, Jeremy J. Heit and Ruike Renee Zhao ()
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Yilong Chang: Stanford University School of Engineering
Shuai Wu: Stanford University School of Engineering
Qi Li: Stanford University School of Engineering
Benjamin Pulli: Stanford University School of Medicine
Darren Salmi: Stanford University School of Medicine
Paul Yock: Stanford University School of Engineering
Jeremy J. Heit: Stanford University School of Medicine
Ruike Renee Zhao: Stanford University School of Engineering

Nature, 2025, vol. 642, issue 8067, 336-342

Abstract: Abstract Clot-induced blockage in arteries or veins can cause severe medical conditions1. Mechanical thrombectomy is a minimally invasive technique used to treat ischaemic stroke, myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolism and peripheral vascular disease2–4 by removing clots through aspiration5, stent retriever6 or cutting mechanisms7. However, current mechanical thrombectomy methods fail to remove clots in 10–30% of patients8–10, especially in the case of large, fibrin-rich clots11. These methods can also rupture and fragment clots12, causing distal emboli and poor outcomes13. To overcome these challenges, we develop the milli-spinner thrombectomy, which uses a simple yet innovative mechanics concept to modify the clot’s microstructure, facilitating its removal. The milli-spinner works by mechanically densifying the clot’s fibrin network and releasing red blood cells through spinning-induced compression and shear forces. It can shrink the clot volume by 95% for easy and fast removal. In vitro tests in pulmonary and cerebral artery flow models and in vivo experiments in swine models demonstrate that the milli-spinner achieves ultrafast clot debulking and high-fidelity revascularization, outperforming aspiration thrombectomy. The milli-spinner thrombectomy directly modifies the clot microstructure to facilitate clot removal, improving mechanical thrombectomy success rates compared with current methods that rely on clot rupture or cutting. This approach offers a promising new direction for mechanical thrombectomy devices, especially for treating ischaemic stroke, pulmonary embolism and peripheral thrombosis.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-09049-0

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