Systems and methods for management of thrombosis

Abstract

An aspiration system includes an aspiration catheter including a tubular aspiration member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen, and configured to at least partially extend out of the lumen of an elongate tubular member and into the vasculature of a subject, an elongate support member coupled to the tubular aspiration member and extending between the proximal end of the aspiration catheter and the proximal end of the tubular aspiration member, a high pressure injection lumen extending within the elongate support member and having a distal end including a curved portion configured to change a direction of fluid flow by at least about 90°, at least one orifice located at the distal end of the high pressure injection lumen configured to allow liquid to be released into the lumen of the tubular aspiration member, and an annular seal carried by the tubular aspiration member and configured to create a liquid seal against the inner surface of the elongate tubular member.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An aspiration system for removal of material from a lumen, cavity or duct of a patient, comprising:
 an aspiration catheter having a proximal end and a distal end and configured to be inserted through a lumen of an elongate tubular member, the elongate tubular member configured for insertion into the vasculature of a subject and having a proximal end, a distal end, the lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end, and an inner surface defined by the lumen, the aspiration catheter comprising:
 a tubular aspiration member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen, and configured to at least partially extend out of the lumen of the elongate tubular member at the distal end of the elongate tubular member and into the vasculature of the subject; 
 an elongate support member coupled to the tubular aspiration member and extending between the proximal end of the aspiration catheter and the proximal end of the tubular aspiration member; 
 a high pressure injection lumen extending within the elongate support member and having a proximal end adjacent the proximal end of the aspiration catheter and a distal end adjacent the distal end of the tubular aspiration member, the distal end of the high pressure injection lumen including a curved portion configured to change a direction of fluid flow through the high pressure injection lumen by at least about 90°; 
 at least one orifice located at the distal end of the high pressure injection lumen configured to allow liquid injected through the high pressure injection lumen to be released into the lumen of the tubular aspiration member; and 
 an annular seal carried by the tubular aspiration member and configured to create a liquid seal against the inner surface of the elongate tubular member. 
   
     
     
         2 . The aspiration system of  claim 1 , wherein the curved portion of the high pressure injection lumen is configured to change a direction of fluid flow through the high pressure injection lumen by approximately 180°. 
     
     
         3 . The aspiration system of  claim 1 , wherein the curved portion of the high pressure injection lumen and the at least one orifice are contained within a distal portion of the lumen of the tubular aspiration member. 
     
     
         4 . The aspiration system of  claim 1 , wherein the curved portion of the high pressure injection lumen spans about one cm or less along a longitudinal axis of the aspiration catheter. 
     
     
         5 . The aspiration system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one orifice has an inner diameter less than 0.008 inches. 
     
     
         6 . The aspiration system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one orifice has an inner diameter of between about 0.003 inches and about 0.004 inches. 
     
     
         7 . The aspiration system of  claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the high pressure injection lumen is located distally of the distal end of the elongate support member. 
     
     
         8 . The aspiration system of  claim 7 , wherein the aspiration catheter further comprises a tubular extension having a proximal end coupled to the distal end of the elongate support member such that the high pressure injection lumen extends serially through the elongate support member and the tubular extension. 
     
     
         9 . The aspiration system of  claim 8 , wherein the curved portion of the high pressure injection lumen and the at least one orifice are carried on a distal end of the tubular extension. 
     
     
         10 . The aspiration system of  claim 8 , wherein the elongate support member has a first outer diameter and the tubular extension has a second outer diameter, and wherein the first outer diameter is greater than the second outer diameter. 
     
     
         11 . The aspiration system of  claim 1 , wherein the annular seal comprises an o-ring. 
     
     
         12 . The aspiration system of  claim 11 , wherein the o-ring has an unstressed inner diameter and is carried by an external portion of the tubular aspiration member having an external diameter, and wherein the unstressed inner diameter of the o-ring is less than the external diameter of the external portion of the tubular aspiration member. 
     
     
         13 . The aspiration system of  claim 11 , wherein the annular seal further comprises an elastomeric coating covering an external portion of the o-ring and an external portion of the tubular aspiration member adjacent the o-ring. 
     
     
         14 . The aspiration system of  claim 13 , wherein the elastomeric coating comprises polyurethane. 
     
     
         15 . The aspirational system of  claim 13 , wherein the elastomeric coating is a dip coating. 
     
     
         16 . The aspiration system of  claim 13 , wherein the elastomeric coating has a thickness of less than 0.001 inches. 
     
     
         17 . The aspiration system of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate support member comprises a hypo tube. 
     
     
         18 . The aspiration system of  claim 1 , wherein the inner surface of the elongate tubular member is located adjacent the distal end of the elongate tubular member. 
     
     
         19 . The aspiration system of  claim 1 , wherein the proximal end of the tubular aspiration member comprises an angled proximal opening to the lumen of the tubular aspiration member. 
     
     
         20 . The tubular aspiration member of  claim 19 , wherein the lumen of the tubular aspiration member has a first cross-sectional area and the angled proximal opening of the lumen of the tubular aspiration member has a second cross-sectional area, and wherein the first cross-sectional area is less than the second cross-sectional area.