Patent ID: 8956386
Filing Date: 2015-02-17
Classification: A61B,A61F

Abstract:
1. A method of dissolving a thrombus in a blood vessel for improving blood flow, comprising: providing a filter device comprising an expandable filter body permanently fixed to a distal end portion of an outer catheter and an agitation member disposed on a distal end of an inner catheter, wherein the inner catheter is slidably contained within the outer catheter; distally advancing the outer catheter relative to an aspiration catheter such that the filter body is positioned distal to the aspiration catheter; expanding the expandable filter body in the blood vessel; distally advancing the inner catheter relative to the outer catheter such that the agitation member is positioned distal to the filter body at a treatment site; activating the agitation member for dissolving the thrombus in the blood vessel; applying aspiration from a location proximal to the filter body for pulling resulting particles into the filter body; retracting the filter device into the aspiration catheter with the particles captured inside the filter body; and withdrawing the filter device and the aspiration catheter from the blood vessel.