Patent ID: 8123777

Claim:
Apparatus for filtering and aspirating emboli from a vessel comprising: a guidewire; a vascular filter mounted on the guidewire, the vascular filter including a blood-permeable element, the vascular filter causing emboli to become deposited in the vessel in the vicinity of the vascular filter; and a first catheter having proximal and distal ends, proximal and distal openings, and a lumen defined by a catheter wall extending between the proximal and distal openings, the distal end of the first catheter has a rounded end with the distal opening off-center such that, when viewed in a cross-section that extends along a central longitudinal axis of the lumen, the catheter wall extends in a generally straight fashion towards the proximal end from the distal opening on a first side and, on a second side opposite the first side, has a first portion nearest the distal opening that is curved in a concave fashion towards the lumen and a second portion extending proximally from the first portion in a generally straight fashion towards the proximal end; wherein the guidewire passes through the distal opening, is at least partially disposed within the lumen, and passes through a port disposed in the catheter wall proximal of the distal end and distal of the proximal end; wherein the first catheter is adapted to be advanced along the guidewire to a location in the vessel in the vicinity of the vascular filter to aspirate emboli; wherein the concave curve of the first portion at least partially defines the distal opening.