Systems and methods for removal of blood and thrombotic material

Abstract

A system for aspirating thrombus that includes an aspiration catheter, a tubing set connected to the aspiration catheter, a pressurization element configured to couple to the tubing set and further configured to pressurize fluid from a first fluid source or allow pressurized fluid from the first fluid source to be transferred through a supply lumen of the aspiration catheter, and a sheath through which the aspiration catheter can be advanced.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for aspirating thrombus, comprising:
 an aspiration catheter comprising:
 an elongate shaft configured for placement within a blood vessel of a subject; 
 a supply lumen and an aspiration lumen each extending along the shaft; and 
 an opening at or near the distal end of the supply lumen, the opening configured to allow the injection of pressurized fluid into the aspiration lumen at or near the distal end of the aspiration lumen when the pressurized fluid is caused or allowed to flow through the supply lumen; 
   a tubing set comprising a first conduit having a distal end configured to couple to the aspiration lumen of the aspiration catheter and a proximal end configured to couple to a vacuum source, and a second conduit having a distal end configured to couple to the supply lumen of the aspiration catheter and a proximal end configured to couple to a first fluid source;   a pressurization element configured to couple to the tubing set and further configured to pressurize fluid from the first fluid source or allow pressurized fluid from the first fluid source to be transferred to the supply lumen, such that the pressurized fluid is capable of flowing through the supply lumen from the proximal end of the supply lumen to the distal end of the supply lumen;   a sheath having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen extending between the proximal end and the distal end, the lumen configured for placement of the aspiration catheter therethrough.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sheath further comprises an extension conduit in fluid communication with the lumen of the sheath and extending from the sheath, the extension conduit configured for coupling to a second fluid source 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the second fluid source comprises a contrast agent. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the second fluid source further comprises a syringe having a barrel and a plunger longitudinally movable within the barrel, the barrel configured to contain the contrast agent. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the second fluid source does not comprise a substantial amount of contrast agent. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the extension conduit is hydraulically coupled to a valve having a first position configured to selectively couple the extension conduit to a third fluid source comprising a contrast agent and a second position configured to selectively couple the extension conduit to the second fluid source. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the second fluid source comprises a saline bag. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the second fluid source comprises a pressure bag configured to compress a saline bag. 
     
     
         9 . A system for aspirating thrombus, comprising:
 an aspiration catheter comprising:
 an elongate shaft configured for placement within a blood vessel of a subject; 
 a supply lumen and an aspiration lumen each extending along the shaft, the supply lumen having a proximal end and a distal end, and the aspiration lumen having a proximal end and an open distal end; and 
 an opening at or near the distal end of the supply lumen, the opening configured to allow the injection of pressurized fluid into the aspiration lumen at or near the distal end of the aspiration lumen when the pressurized fluid is caused or allowed to flow through the supply lumen; 
   a tubing set comprising a first conduit having a distal end configured to couple to the aspiration lumen of the aspiration catheter and a proximal end configured to couple to a vacuum source, and a second conduit having a distal end configured to couple to the supply lumen of the aspiration catheter and a proximal end configured to couple to a first fluid source;   a pressurization element configured to couple to the tubing set and further configured to pressurize fluid from the first fluid source or allow pressurized fluid from the first fluid source to be transferred to the supply lumen, such that the pressurized fluid is capable of flowing through the supply lumen from the proximal end of the supply lumen to the distal end of the supply lumen;   a sheath having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen extending between the proximal end and the distal end, the lumen configured for placement of the aspiration catheter therethrough.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the sheath further comprises an extension conduit in fluid communication with the lumen of the sheath and extending from the sheath, the extension conduit configured for coupling to a second fluid source 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the second fluid source comprises a contrast agent. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the second fluid source further comprises a syringe having a barrel and a plunger longitudinally movable within the barrel, the barrel configured to contain the contrast agent. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the second fluid source does not comprise a substantial amount of contrast agent. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the extension conduit is hydraulically coupled to a valve having a first position configured to selectively couple the extension conduit to a third fluid source comprising a contrast agent and a second position configured to selectively couple the extension conduit to the second fluid source. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the second fluid source comprises a saline bag. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the second fluid source comprises a pressure bag configured to compress a saline bag. 
     
     
         17 . A system for aspirating thrombus, comprising:
 an aspiration catheter comprising:
 an elongate shaft configured for placement within a blood vessel of a subject; 
 a supply lumen and an aspiration lumen each extending along the shaft, the supply lumen having a proximal end and a distal end, and the aspiration lumen having a proximal end and an open distal end; and 
 an opening at or near the distal end of the supply lumen, the opening configured to allow the injection of pressurized fluid into the aspiration lumen at or near the distal end of the aspiration lumen when the pressurized fluid is caused or allowed to flow through the supply lumen; 
   a tubing set comprising a first conduit having a distal end configured to couple to the aspiration lumen of the aspiration catheter and a proximal end configured to couple to a vacuum source, and a second conduit having a distal end configured to couple to the supply lumen of the aspiration catheter and a proximal end configured to couple to a first fluid source;   a pressurization element configured to couple to the tubing set and further configured to pressurize fluid from the first fluid source or allow pressurized fluid from the first fluid source to be transferred to the supply lumen, such that the pressurized fluid is capable of flowing through the supply lumen from the proximal end of the supply lumen to the distal end of the supply lumen;   a sheath having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen extending between the proximal end and the distal end, the lumen configured for placement of the aspiration catheter therethrough, the sheath further comprising an extension conduit in fluid communication with the lumen of the sheath and extending from the sheath, the extension conduit configured for coupling to a second fluid source;   a seal associated with the proximal end of the sheath and configured to seal the lumen of the sheath around the elongate shaft of the aspiration catheter when the aspiration catheter is in place within the sheath; and   wherein the extension conduit is configured to allow fluid from the second fluid source to flow through the lumen of the sheath from the proximal end of the sheath to the distal end of the sheath when the open distal end of the aspiration lumen of the aspiration catheter is extended outside of the lumen of the sheath in a blood vessel and is in proximity to the distal end of the sheath, and when insufficient flowable material is present adjacent the open distal end of the aspiration lumen, such that a negative pressure gradient supplied by the vacuum source further causes a significant volume of the fluid from the second fluid source to actively flow through the aspiration lumen from the open distal end to the proximal end and into an interior of the vacuum source.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the second fluid source further comprises a syringe having a barrel and a plunger longitudinally movable within the barrel, the barrel configured to contain a contrast agent. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the extension conduit is hydraulically coupled to a valve having a first position configured to selectively couple the extension conduit to a third fluid source comprising a contrast agent and a second position configured to selectively couple the extension conduit to the second fluid source. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the second fluid source comprises a pressure bag configured to compress a saline bag.