Patent ID: 6855136

Claim:
Apparatus suitable for disrupting a vascular occlusion adhered to a vessel wall, the apparatus comprising: an infusion catheter having proximal and distal ends and a lumen extending therebetween, an atraumatic tip disposed at the distal end, and at least one delivery port disposed proximal of the atraumatic tip in fluid communication with the lumen, the at least one delivery port configured to infuse fluid into the occlusion so that the fluid reduces adhesion of the occlusion to an intima of the vessel wall; an emboli removal catheter having a proximal end, a distal end including an occlusive element, and a lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends, the lumen sized to permit the longitudinal advancement of the infusion catheter therethrough; and a venous return sheath having proximal and distal ends and a lumen extending therebetween, the venous return sheath in fluid communication with the lumen of the emboli removal catheter and is adapted to be disposed in a patient's venous system.