Aspiration thrombectomy catheter system, and associated methods

Abstract

An aspiration thrombectomy catheter system includes an aspirator and an aspiration catheter for insertion in a blood vessel. The catheter has a shaft with a proximal end for connection with the aspirator and a tapering distal end with a tip for insertion in the vessel. A plurality of aspiration ports are arranged in sets along the tapering distal end, for aspirating thrombus from the vessel. At least one aspiration lumens within the shaft conducts thrombus from the vessel, through the aspiration ports, to the aspirator. Variably sized or shaped ports provide differing aspiration vectors for enhanced thrombus removal. The aspiration thrombectomy catheter additionally provides for uniform drug dispersion at a thrombotic area, alone or in combination with aspiration of the thrombus. In the event of an adverse reaction, drug dosage may be easily reduced by aspirating dispersed drugs back into the catheter.

1 . An aspiration thrombectomy catheter system, comprising:
 an aspirator; and   an aspiration catheter for insertion in a blood vessel, the aspiration catheter having:
 a shaft with (a) a proximal end for connection to the aspirator and (b) a tapering distal end with a distal tip for insertion in the vessel; 
 a plurality of aspiration port sets arranged along the tapering distal end, each of the aspiration port sets having a plurality of ports for aspirating thrombus from the vessel, and 
 at least one aspiration lumens within the shaft, for conducting aspirated thrombus from the vessel, through the aspiration ports, to the aspirator. 
   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the ports of each aspiration port set differ in one or both of size and shape. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2 , the differently sized or shaped aspiration ports providing differing vector forces for aspiration of thrombus. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 3 , the differently sized or shaped aspiration ports including small, medium and large ports for producing Venturi forces of varying strength to aspirate the thrombus into the lumens. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , the aspiration catheter comprising a dual aspiration catheter having a first aspiration lumens and a second aspiration lumens. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 5 , the plurality of aspiration port sets comprising a proximal port set opening into the first aspiration lumens, and a middle and a distal port set opening into the second aspiration lumens;
 wherein the first aspiration lumens conducts aspirated thrombus from the proximal port set to the aspirator and the second aspiration lumens conducts aspirated thrombus from the middle and distal port sets to the aspirator or a second aspirator.   
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 6 , further comprising a first tube connecting the first lumens to the aspirator and a second tube connecting the second lumens to the aspirator or the second aspirator. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1 , the shaft comprising a shoulder defining a taper of the shaft to the distal tip. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a dispenser for dispersing lytic agents through one or more of the aspiration port sets to the thrombus. 
   
   
       10 . A method for aspirating thrombus from a vessel, comprising:
 advancing an aspiration catheter within the vessel until at least a distal set of aspiration ports arranged along a tapering catheter tip is proximate a thrombus;   applying aspiration forces through at least the distal set of aspiration ports to suction at least a first portion of the thrombus into a first aspiration lumens;   advancing the aspiration catheter through unaspirated thrombus; and   applying aspiration forces via at least one second set of aspiration ports arranged along the tapering catheter tip and proximal to the distal set of aspiration ports, to suction at least a second portion of the thrombus into the aspiration catheter.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising withdrawing the catheter through the thrombus while aspirating through one or more of the distal and the at least one second set of aspiration ports. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein applying aspiration forces through the distal set of ports comprises activating a first aspirator and applying aspiration forces through the at least one second set of ports comprises activating a second aspirator. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising dispersing lytic agents at the thrombus through one or more of the distal set of aspiration ports and the at least one second set of aspiration ports, prior to applying the aspiration forces. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein advancing the aspiration catheter comprises advancing the aspiration catheter over a guide wire. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein suctioning at least a second portion of the thrombus into the aspiration catheter comprises suctioning at least the second portion into a second aspiration lumens. 
   
   
       16 . A method for aspirating thrombus from a vessel, comprising:
 advancing an aspiration catheter within the vessel to an occluding thrombus;   dispersing one or more lytic agents from a first catheter lumens to the thrombus via a first set of ports opening into the first catheter lumens; and   applying aspiration forces to the thrombus via at least a second set of ports, the second set of ports conducting aspirated thrombus into a second catheter lumens.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising repeating the steps of dispersing and applying, to loosen and remove the thrombus from the vessel. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising applying aspiration forces to the thrombus via a third set of ports, the third set of ports differing from the second set of ports in one or both of size and shape. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , the different sizes or shapes of the second and third sets of ports providing multiple aspiration vortices for removing the thrombus from the vessel. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18 , the third set of aspiration ports opening into the second catheter lumens.