Figure 5.

Line-of-force challenge. Top left image demonstrates a stent retriever deployed within a thrombus on the distal limb of an S-shaped curve. Top right image, taken during retraction of the stent retriever without an intermediate catheter, shows ineffective force transmission where some of the force deforms the original course of the vessel (depicted with the dotted lines). Bottom left image shows a stent retriever delivered through an intermediate catheter and deployed across a thrombus, again on the distal limb of an S-shaped curve. Bottom right image, taken during retraction of the stent retriever and with the intermediate catheter just proximal to the thrombus, demonstrates effective force transmission without deformation of the vessel.