Patent ID: 8021380

Claim:
A system for removing an obstruction within a body lumen, the system comprising: a catheter shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, the catheter shaft defining a first lumen having a distal exit port and a second lumen having a distal reentry port and a third lumen for receiving a guidewire extending along at least a distal portion of the catheter shaft, wherein the first and second lumens extend side-by-side from the proximal end to the distal end of the catheter shaft; and a drive belt, wherein the drive belt is disposed within the catheter shaft in a circulating manner through the first lumen, the distal exit port, the distal reentry port and the second lumen to form a loop that extends from the proximal and distal ends of the catheter shaft; a plurality of capture devices positioned along at least a portion of the drive belt that extend distal of the distal end of the catheter shaft for removing the obstruction from the body lumen when the drive belt is circulated through the catheter shaft, such that each capture device is capable of removing at least a portion of the obstruction as the capture device travels between the distal exit port and the distal reentry port of the catheter shaft; and a drive mechanism located within a housing attached to the proximal end of the catheter shaft, wherein the drive mechanism is operably coupled to the drive belt for driving the drive belt and the plurality of capture devices through the catheter shaft and the housing in a circulating manner such that the plurality of capture devices exit the catheter shaft through the distal exit port and re-enter the catheter shaft through the distal reentry port; and a cleaning mechanism located within the housing for removing captured clot particles from the plurality of capture devices as the drive belt is circulated through the housing; wherein the cleaning mechanism includes a brush having bristles that remove captured clot particles from the plurality of capture devices as they pass through the housing.