Catheter assembly for blood clots removal

Abstract

An extension catheter is introduced through the guide catheter and inserted into the treatment area, The extension catheter may have an expandable tip. A suction pump is coupled to the proximal end of the guide catheter to aspirate blood clots or other issue from the treatment location outside the body.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A catheter assembly for blood clot and tissue removal comprising:
 a guide catheter having a distal end, a proximal end, a lumen extending longitudinally therethrough, and a soft tip located on the distal end;   an extension catheter positioned at least partially inside the guide catheter, the extension catheter comprising a distal tubular portion having a distal end and a proximal end, and including a pushing wire attached to the proximal end of the tubular portion; and   herein the soft tip of the guide catheter seals the space between the extension catheter and the guide catheter when the tubular portion of the extension catheter is positioned at least partially outside of the guide catheter in an expanded configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The catheter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the pushing wire attached to the proximal end tubular portion of the extension catheter is extended along the lumen of the guide catheter and outside of the proximal end of the guide catheter, 
     
     
         3 . The catheter assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the pushing wire is further attached to the distal end of the tubular portion. 
     
     
         4 . The catheter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular portion of the extension catheter is configured to be extended beyond the distal end of the guide catheter while the proximal end of the tubular portion remains within the lumen of the guide catheter. 
     
     
         5 . The catheter assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the extension catheter has an inner lumen, and wherein the lumen of the guide catheter and the inner lumen of the extension catheter are aligned to allow contrast injection and aspiration of blood clots and other tissue. 
     
     
         6 . The catheter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular portion of he extension catheter has one of the following openings on its distal end and its proximal end: circular, oval, elliptical, or irregular. 
     
     
         7 . The catheter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular portion has an outside diameter, and wherein the inner diameter of the lumen of the guide catheter is more than 0.002″ larger than the outside diameter of the tubular portion. 
     
     
         8 . The catheter assembly of  claim 1 , further including an aspiration feature attached to the proximal end of the guide catheter, wherein aspiration is suitable to apply vacuum to the distal end of the tubular portion. and wherein the extension catheter is partially positioned outside of the guide catheter. 
     
     
         9 . The catheter assembly of  claim 1 , further including means for sealing space between the extension catheter and the guide catheter when the tubular portion of the extension catheter is positioned at least partially outside of the guide catheter, and when suction is applied to the proximal end of the guide catheter. 
     
     
         10 . The catheter assembly of  claim 1 , further including means for providing a seal between the tubular portion of the extension catheter and the guide catheter, and further including one of the following: a hydrophilic coating on the outer surface of the tubular portion; a hydrophobic coating on the outer surface of the tubular portion; texture on the outer surface of the tubular portion; or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The catheter assembly  1 , wherein the tubular portion has an outer surface, and the soft tip of the guide catheter surrounds the outer surface of the tubular portion of the extension catheter when under vacuum providing a seal between the guide catheter and extension catheter. 
     
     
         12 . A catheter assembly for blood clot and tissue removal comprising:
 a guide catheter having an inner lumen extending longitudinally therethrough;   an extension catheter having a tubular portion that has a distal end and a proximal end, and a pushing wire attached to the proximal end of the tubular portion, wherein an expandable tip is located on the distal end of the tubular portion; and   wherein the tubular portion of the extension catheter is positioned within the inner lumen of the guide catheter and having a portion thereof positioned outside of the guide catheter.   
     
     
         13 . The catheter assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the expandable tip comprises a tubular braid having a proximal end attached to the distal end of the tubular portion of the extension catheter, and wherein the expandable tip also has a distal end that is fully opened. 
     
     
         14 . The catheter assembly of  claim 12 , further including means for sealing a space between the tubular member of the extension catheter and the guide catheter. 
     
     
         15 . The catheter assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the expandable tip opens to a larger size upon release from the guide catheter than its size inside the guiding catheter. 
     
     
         16 . The catheter assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the expandable tip is made of a tubular braid and coated with silicone. 
     
     
         17 . The catheter assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the pushing wire is further attached to the tubular braid. 
     
     
         18 . The catheter assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the tubular braid is configured to have a pre-set expanded shape when released from the guide catheter. 
     
     
         19 . The catheter assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the tubular braid is configured to assume a pre-set expanded shape of a funnel when pushed outside the guide catheter.