Patent ID: 6849068
Filing Date: 2005-02-01
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
1. An aspiration catheter for removing emboli. or other particles from a blood vessel, comprising: an elongate flexible tubular body having a proximal end and a distal end, the body having an outer wall and an inner wall and being sized and configured to gain access into a patient's coronary vessel; an aspiration lumen defined by the inner wall, the aspiration lumen extending through the tubular body and having a substantially uniformly circular cross-section from the proximal end of the tubular body to the distal end of the tubular body, the aspiration lumen having a diameter between about 0.03″ to about 0.07″; an aspiration port at the proximal end of the tubular body and an aspiration mouth at the distal end of the tubular body, the aspiration port being in fluid communication with the aspiration lumen and the aspiration mouth; a guidewire lumen having a proximal end and a distal opening, wherein the guidewire lumen is sized and configured to receive a standard-size coronary guidewire therethrough, the guidewire lumen being connected only to a distal end portion of the tubular body, the guidewire lumen connected to the tubular body and adjacent the aspiration lumen such that the aspiration lumen and the guidewire lumen near the distal end portion of the body form essentially a figure eight configuration, and such that said aspiration lumen is unobstructed by said guidewire lumen, wherein the distal opening of the guidewire lumen is distal to the aspiration mouth, the aspiration mouth facing away from the guidewire lumen, whereby the guidewire lumen remains unobstructed during aspiration; and a source of negative pressure capable of establishing fluid communication with the aspiration port.