Patent ID: 7879022

Claim:
A rapid exchange fluid jet thrombectomy device, comprising: a. a manifold including a strain relief; and, b. a catheter extending distally from the manifold, through the strain relief, and terminating in a tapered tip, the catheter including: (1) an elongated tubular structure which serves as an exhaust path for effluent from the tapered tip to the manifold, at least a portion of the elongated tubular structure being composed of a spiral metal tube formed of a metal tube having a spiral cut along its length, the spiral metal tube being surrounded by a polymer jacket, the elongated tubular structure also having a distal portion near the tapered tip, said distal portion having at least one inflow orifice and at least one outflow orifice, and the spiral cut decreases in pitch from a spiral metal tube proximal end toward the distal portion with the spiral metal tube increasing in flexibility toward the distal portion, and the spiral cut increases in pitch at the distal portion from a position proximal to the outflow orifice to a position distal to the inflow orifice with the spiral metal tube decreasing in flexibility at the distal portion; (2) a high pressure tube extending through the elongated tubular structure and having a proximal end anchored within the manifold and a distal end located adjacent to the tapered tip; and (3) a fluid jet emanator attached to the high pressure tube at the distal end of the high pressure tube.