Systems and methods for thrombolysis and delivery of an agent

Abstract

A system for aspirating thrombus and delivering an agent includes an aspiration catheter having a supply lumen having a proximal end, a distal end, and a wall, and an aspiration lumen having a proximal end, an open distal end, and an interior wall surface adjacent the open distal end, and at least one orifice at or adjacent the distal end of the supply lumen, in fluid communication with the aspiration lumen and located proximally of the open distal end of the aspiration lumen, wherein the at least one orifice is configured to create a spray pattern that is caused to impinge on the interior wall surface of the aspiration lumen such that the spray pattern upon impinging on the interior wall surface is caused to transform into at least a substantially distally-oriented flow capable of exiting the open distal end of the aspiration lumen.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for aspirating thrombus and delivering an agent comprising:
 a first fluid source containing a first fluid;   a second fluid source containing a second fluid;   a tube set coupled to the first fluid source and the second fluid source; and   an aspiration catheter in fluid communication with both the first fluid source and the second fluid source through the tube set, the aspiration catheter comprising:
 an aspiration lumen comprising a distally positioned deflection element; and 
 a supply tube disposed within the aspiration lumen, the supply tube comprising an orifice at or adjacent the distal end of a supply lumen of the supply tube, the orifice is configured to direct at least one of the first fluid and the second fluid toward the deflection element as a spray pattern such that upon impinging upon the deflection element at least one of the first fluid and the second fluid is directed substantially distally to exit the open distal end of the aspiration lumen. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the tube set comprises:
 a first spike configured to cooperate with a first interface of the first fluid source;   a second spike configured to cooperate with a second interface of the second fluid source; and   tubing extending from the first spike and the second spike to a fitting associated with the aspiration catheter.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a clamp configured to open or close supply from one of the first fluid source or the second fluid source. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first fluid is the same as the second fluid. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a temperature of the first fluid is different than a temperature of the second fluid. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first fluid and the second fluid are pressurized. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein one of the first fluid and the second fluid is saline, a lytic agent, or a contrast agent. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the spray pattern is a jet, a stream, or a mist. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the spray pattern impacts the deflection element at an oblique angle that is distally-orientated and/or an oblique angle that is proximally-orientated. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the deflection elements is a deformation in a wall of the aspiration catheter. 
     
     
         11 . A system for aspirating thrombus and delivering an agent comprising:
 a first fluid source containing a first fluid;   a second fluid source containing a second fluid;   a tube set coupled to the first fluid source and the second fluid source, the tube set comprising:
 a first spike configured to cooperate with a first interface of the first fluid source; 
 a second spike configured to cooperate with a second interface of the second fluid source; and 
 tubing extending from the first spike and the second spike to a fitting associated with the aspiration catheter; and 
   an aspiration catheter in fluid communication with both the first fluid source and the second fluid source through the tube set, the aspiration catheter comprising:
 an aspiration lumen comprising a distally positioned deflection element; and 
 a supply tube disposed within the aspiration lumen, the supply tube comprising a first orifice at or adjacent the distal end of a first supply lumen of the supply tube, the first orifice is configured to direct at least one of the first fluid and the second fluid toward the deflection element as a first spray pattern such that upon impinging upon the deflection element at least one of the first fluid and the second fluid is directed substantially distally to exit the open distal end of the aspiration lumen. 
   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the deflection element comprises a first portion and a second portion separated by a circumferentially extending dividing line. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the first portion is a forward-facing ramp and the second portion is a reverse-facing ramp. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the first supply lumen is in fluid communication with a first hollow tip extension. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the first hollow tip extension is curved. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising a second hollow tip extension in fluid communication with a second supply lumen of the supply tube, at least one of the first fluid or the second fluid exiting the second hollow tip extension in a second spray pattern. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the first spray pattern is directed generally proximally and the second spray pattern is directed generally distally. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one deflection element is configured to deflect one or both of the first spray pattern and the second spray pattern. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the first spray pattern has a conical shape, a hollow conical shape, or a divergent wedge shape. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the first spray pattern has a directional vector that is angled at an angle with respect to an axis of the orifice.