A thrombectomy catheter, comprising: a catheter tube extending from a proximal portion to a distal portion and including a catheter lumen extending between the proximal portion and the distal portion; a high pressure tube extending through the catheter lumen from the catheter proximal portion toward the catheter distal portion, the high pressure tube configured for communication with a fluid source near the catheter proximal portion; a fluid jet emanator in communication with the high pressure tube, the fluid jet emanator having at least one jet orifice for directing at least one fluid jet from said fluid jet emanator through the catheter lumen along a longitudinal axis; an outflow orifice located along a catheter perimeter of the catheter distal portion; an entrainment inflow orifice positioned along the catheter distal portion; and an accessory device (162; 200; 250; 300; 400; 450; 500; 550) disposed within the catheter lumen, the accessory device configured to move rotationally and longitudinally independently of the catheter tube, wherein the accessory device (162; 200; 250; 300; 400; 450; 500; 550) comprises a guidewire (162; 202; 252; 402; 452; 552) having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion; characterised in that the guidewire (162; 202; 252; 402; 452; 552) has a predetermined bend at a distance from a distal tip of the guidewire (162; 202; 252; 402; 452; 552), the guidewire (162; 202; 252; 402; 452; 552) is configured to deflect a portion of the catheter tube positioned distal to the bend, and the guidewire (162; 202; 252; 402; 452; 552) has a stiffness that is less than a stiffness of the proximal portion of the catheter tube and greater than a stiffness of the distal portion of the catheter tube. a catheter tube extending from a proximal portion to a distal portion and including a catheter lumen extending between the proximal portion and the distal portion; a high pressure tube extending through the catheter lumen from the catheter proximal portion toward the catheter distal portion, the high pressure tube configured for communication with a fluid source near the catheter proximal portion; a fluid jet emanator in communication with the high pressure tube, the fluid jet emanator having at least one jet orifice for directing at least one fluid jet from said fluid jet emanator through the catheter lumen along a longitudinal axis; an outflow orifice located along a catheter perimeter of the catheter distal portion; an entrainment inflow orifice positioned along the catheter distal portion; and an accessory device (162; 200; 250; 300; 400; 450; 500; 550) disposed within the catheter lumen, the accessory device configured to move rotationally and longitudinally independently of the catheter tube, wherein the accessory device (162; 200; 250; 300; 400; 450; 500; 550) comprises a guidewire (162; 202; 252; 402; 452; 552) having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion; the guidewire (162; 202; 252; 402; 452; 552) has a predetermined bend at a distance from a distal tip of the guidewire (162; 202; 252; 402; 452; 552), the guidewire (162; 202; 252; 402; 452; 552) is configured to deflect a portion of the catheter tube positioned distal to the bend, and the guidewire (162; 202; 252; 402; 452; 552) has a stiffness that is less than a stiffness of the proximal portion of the catheter tube and greater than a stiffness of the distal portion of the catheter tube.