A method of retrieving a vascular implant from a patient includes winding a distal segment of a retrieval tool about a vascular implant, at least in part by rotating a proximal segment of the retrieval tool, coupling the retrieval tool with the vascular implant and removing the vascular implant and the retrieval tool from the patient. The retrieval tool may include a wire having proximal, middle and distal segments. The distal segment may include a guide segment and a coupling segment, a tip and at least two turns about a longitudinal axis defined by the middle segment. The wire may further have an increasing stiffness profile in a proximal direction from the tip. A vascular implant retrieval assembly includes a vascular implant, such as a vascular filter, a retrieval tool have a distal segment wound about the vascular implant and a sheath surrounding a middle segment of the retrieval tool.
