Patent ID: 11931055
Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 0:
1. An apparatus, comprising:
an aspiration catheter defining a lumen, the aspiration catheter couplable to a vacuum source that is configured to apply a vacuum pressure within the lumen, the aspiration catheter including a distal end disposable within a vessel near a thrombus;
a flexible shaft including an eccentric mass embedded within the flexible shaft at or near the distal end of the flexible shaft, the flexible shaft configured to be disposed within the lumen such that a distal end of the flexible shaft is proximal of the distal end of the aspiration catheter; and
a drive system coupled to the flexible shaft, the drive system configured to rotatably drive the flexible shaft,
the flexible shaft, in response to being rotatably driven by the drive system, configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the flexible shaft and to orbitally move within the aspiration catheter resulting in formation of hydrodynamic vortices that define a steep pressure gradient obliquely oriented in and rotating inside of the aspiration catheter to engage, proximally pull, and fragment the thrombus, the eccentric mass configured to enhance the orbital movement of the flexible shaft.