Patent ID: 7842010

Claim:
A pneumatically-operated thrombectomy catheter deployment system comprising a prepackaged disposable combination of: a. a thrombectomy catheter drive unit connected to a nondisposable compressed gas source, the drive unit including: (1) a double-acting air cylinder; (2) a four-way valve having two inlet/outlet ports that direct-compressed gas from the nondisposable compressed gas source to influence directional operation of the double-acting air cylinder, and two vent ports that vent the compressed gas into air; the four-way valve also having a separate inlet port for the compressed gas; and (3) a frame that is simultaneously connected to the double-acting air cylinder, the four-way valve, an effluent pump, and a pressure regulator for the compressed gas source, said frame securing a close vertical alignment between the effluent pump, the double-acting air cylinder, and a high pressure pump connected to a source of fluid, said frame further comprising at least one traveler bolt that ensures proper alignment of the four-way valve and the double-acting air cylinder; b. the effluent pump opposing the high pressure pump such that both are operated by the double-acting air cylinder and maintain isovolumetric flow of the fluid being pumped into and then out of a patient, and c. a thrombectomy catheter having a distal portion and a proximal portion, said proximal portion being operatively connected to the thrombectomy catheter drive unit and the effluent pump such that the fluid is supplied to the thrombectomy catheter and said fluid emanates from the distal portion of the thrombectomy catheter at an increased pressure in a cross stream flow pattern.