A system (610; 1400) for removal of blood or thrombus comprising: a vacuum source (673; 1408); an aspiration catheter (614; 1614; 1402) having an elongate shaft comprising a distal end configured for placement within a blood vessel, the elongate shaft including an aspiration lumen (636; 1636; 1404) having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the aspiration lumen configured to couple to the vacuum source, the distal end of the aspiration lumen having an orifice; an elongate member (656; 1418) configured for placement through the aspiration lumen, the elongate member having a proximal portion configured to extend from the proximal end of the aspiration lumen and a distal portion including a disruption element (664; 1664; 1418B, 1418C, 1418D) configured to disrupt thrombus within the aspiration lumen of the aspiration catheter, the distal portion further including a straight member extending distally from the disruption element (664; 1164; 1418B, 1418C, 1418D), wherein the elongate member (656; 1418) is configured to be inserted through the aspiration lumen (636; 1636; 1404) of the aspiration catheter (614; 1614; 1402) such that the straight member extends from the aspiration lumen (636; 1636; 1404) into a thrombus within the blood vessel; and a monitoring device (615; 1414) for real time monitoring of catheter aspiration, configured to be coupled between the aspiration catheter and the vacuum source, comprising: a housing having an interior; a pressure sensor (394; 1416) in fluid communication with the interior of the housing; a measurement device coupled to the pressure sensor and configured for measuring deviations in fluid pressure; and a communication device coupled to the measurement device and configured to generate an alert signal (60A, 60B, 60C, 70, 84) when a deviation in fluid pressure measured by the measurement device exceeds a pre-set threshold. a vacuum source (673; 1408); an aspiration catheter (614; 1614; 1402) having an elongate shaft comprising a distal end configured for placement within a blood vessel, the elongate shaft including an aspiration lumen (636; 1636; 1404) having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the aspiration lumen configured to couple to the vacuum source, the distal end of the aspiration lumen having an orifice; an elongate member (656; 1418) configured for placement through the aspiration lumen, the elongate member having a proximal portion configured to extend from the proximal end of the aspiration lumen and a distal portion including a disruption element (664; 1664; 1418B, 1418C, 1418D) configured to disrupt thrombus within the aspiration lumen of the aspiration catheter, the distal portion further including a straight member extending distally from the disruption element (664; 1164; 1418B, 1418C, 1418D), wherein the elongate member (656; 1418) is configured to be inserted through the aspiration lumen (636; 1636; 1404) of the aspiration catheter (614; 1614; 1402) such that the straight member extends from the aspiration lumen (636; 1636; 1404) into a thrombus within the blood vessel; and a monitoring device (615; 1414) for real time monitoring of catheter aspiration, configured to be coupled between the aspiration catheter and the vacuum source, comprising: a housing having an interior; a pressure sensor (394; 1416) in fluid communication with the interior of the housing; a measurement device coupled to the pressure sensor and configured for measuring deviations in fluid pressure; and a communication device coupled to the measurement device and configured to generate an alert signal (60A, 60B, 60C, 70, 84) when a deviation in fluid pressure measured by the measurement device exceeds a pre-set threshold. a housing having an interior; a pressure sensor (394; 1416) in fluid communication with the interior of the housing; a measurement device coupled to the pressure sensor and configured for measuring deviations in fluid pressure; and a communication device coupled to the measurement device and configured to generate an alert signal (60A, 60B, 60C, 70, 84) when a deviation in fluid pressure measured by the measurement device exceeds a pre-set threshold.