Patent ID: 7309334

Claim:
An intracranial aspiration catheter, comprising: an elongate, flexible tubular body, having a proximal end, a distal end, and an aspiration lumen extending therethrough; a distally facing opening on the distal end of the aspiration lumen; a proximal section on the body, having a fixed diameter; a distal section on the body in which the aspiration lumen including the distally facing opening is movable between a first, reduced inside diameter for transluminal navigation and a second, enlarged inside diameter for aspirating material; an axially movable support for controllably supporting the aspiration lumen against collapse when in the second diameter; and a control on the proximal end of the catheter for controlling the support; wherein the distal section is advanced from the first diameter to the second diameter in response to distal movement of the support; and wherein the support is in a first proximal position within the catheter when the distal section is in the first inside diameter configuration and a second distal position within the catheter to support the distal section when the distal section is in the second inside diameter configuration.