Aspiration catheter

Abstract

Aspiration catheters suitable for use in the treatment of an occlusion in a blood vessel are disclosed. These catheters are especially useful in the removal of occlusions from saphenous vein grafts, the coronary and carotid arteries, arteries above the aortic arch and even smaller vessels. The catheters of the present invention are provided in either over-the-wire or in single operator form. Radiopaque markers are preferably incorporated into distal ends of the catheters to facilitate their positioning within the body. The catheters are provided with varying flexibility along the length of the shaft, such that they are soft and flexible enough to be navigated through the vasculature of a patient without causing damage, but are stiff enough to sustain the axial push required to position the catheter properly and to sustain the aspiration pressures.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An aspiration catheter, comprising 
 an elongate flexible tubular body having a proximal end and a distal end;    a main lumen extending through the tubular body;    an aspiration port at the proximal end of the tubular body, the aspiration port being in fluid communication with the main lumen; and    a tip on the distal end of the tubular body, the tip being formed of a more flexible material than that used to form the tubular body.    
     
     
         2 . The catheter of  claim 1 , further comprising a reinforcement incorporated into at least a portion of said tubular body.  
     
     
         3 . The catheter of  claim 2 , wherein said reinforcement is selected from the group consisting of a metallic braid, a polymer coil, and a metallic coil.  
     
     
         4 . The catheter of  claim 2 , wherein the reinforcement is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of a polymer, stainless steel, ELGILOY, silver plated stainless steel, gold plated stainless steel, platinum, nitinol, or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         5 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the tubular body is more flexible than the proximal end of the tubular body.  
     
     
         6 . The catheter of  claim 5 , wherein the tubular body has a braid density or coil pitch at the distal end equal to or greater than the density or pitch at the proximal end.  
     
     
         7 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the main lumen is sized to receive at least one separate catheter which is slidably disposed therein.  
     
     
         8 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the main lumen has an inner diameter of approximately 0.045″.  
     
     
         9 . The catheter of  claim 1 , further comprising a second lumen adjacent said first lumen adapted to receive a guidewire therethrough.  
     
     
         10 . The catheter of  claim 9 , wherein said second lumen extends substantially the entire length of the tubular body.  
     
     
         11 . The catheter of  claim 9 , wherein said second lumen extends less than about 40 cm in a proximal direction from the distal end of the tubular body.  
     
     
         12 . The catheter of  claim 9 , wherein said second lumen has a slit through a side wall of the lumen to allow insertion and removal of the guidewire therethrough.  
     
     
         13 . The catheter of  claim 9 , wherein said second lumen has an inner diameter of approximately 0.020″.  
     
     
         14 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein said distal tip of said catheter comprises at least one side port.  
     
     
         15 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein said distal tip of said catheter is tapered.  
     
     
         16 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein said distal tip of said catheter is blunt.  
     
     
         17 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein said distal tip of said catheter has an oblique opening.  
     
     
         18 . The catheter of  claim 1 , further comprising a valve in fluid communication with the main lumen to control aspiration at the distal end of said catheter.  
     
     
         19 . The catheter of  claim 1 , further comprising a coating on an outer surface of said catheter.  
     
     
         20 . The catheter of  claim 19 , wherein said coating is selected from the group consisting of hydrophilic, hydrophobic, antithrombogenic, and a combination thereof.  
     
     
         21 . The catheter of  claim 1 , further comprising a therapeutic device on said distal end.  
     
     
         22 . The catheter of  claim 21 , wherein said therapeutic device is selected from the group consisting of an angioplasty balloon, a stent deploying device, and an atherectomy device.  
     
     
         23 . An aspiration catheter, comprising 
 an elongate flexible tubular body having a proximal end and a distal end;    a main lumen extending through the tubular body, said main lumen being sized to receive at least one separate catheter which is slidably disposed therein;    an aspiration port at the proximal end of the tubular body, the aspiration port being in fluid communication with the main lumen; and    a tip on the distal end of the tubular body, the tip being formed of a more flexible material than that used to form the tubular body.    
     
     
         24 . The catheter of  claim 23 , further comprising a second lumen adjacent said first lumen adapted to receive a guidewire therethrough.  
     
     
         25 . The catheter of  claim 24 , wherein said second lumen extends substantially the entire length of the tubular body.  
     
     
         26 . The catheter of  claim 24 , wherein said second lumen extends less than 40 cm in a proximal direction from the distal end of the tubular body.  
     
     
         27 . The catheter of  claim 24 , wherein said second lumen has a slit through a side wall of the lumen to allow insertion and removal of the guidewire therethrough.  
     
     
         28 . The catheter of  claim 23 , wherein said distal tip of said catheter comprises at least one side port.  
     
     
         29 . The catheter of  claim 23 , wherein said distal tip of said catheter is angled to increase the area of an opening at said distal tip.  
     
     
         30 . The catheter of  claim 23 , further comprising a valve in fluid communication with the main lumen.  
     
     
         31 . The catheter of  claim 23 , further comprising a reinforcement incorporated into at least a portion of said tubular body.  
     
     
         32 . An aspiration catheter, comprising: 
 an elongate flexible tubular body having a proximal end and a distal end;    a main aspiration lumen through said tubular body;    an aspiration port on the proximal end of the tubular body, the aspiration port being in fluid communication with the main lumen;    a therapeutic device attached to the distal end of the tubular body; and    a tip on the distal end of the tubular body, the tip being formed of a more flexible material than that used to form the tubular body.    
     
     
         33 . The catheter of  claim 32 , wherein said therapeutic device comprises an inflatable balloon and said catheter further comprises a separate inflation lumen adjacent said main lumen.  
     
     
         34 . The catheter of  claim 32 , wherein said therapeutic device is an atherectomy device.  
     
     
         35 . The catheter of  claim 32 , further comprising a valve in fluid communication with said main aspiration lumen.  
     
     
         36 . The catheter of  claim 32 , further comprising a reinforcement incorporated into at least a portion of said tubular body.  
     
     
         37 . The catheter of  claim 32 , wherein said distal tip of said catheter is tapered.  
     
     
         38 . The catheter of  claim 32 , wherein said distal tip of said catheter has an oblique opening.