Patent ID: 7959608

Claim:
A flexible catheter system for clearing an accumulation of occlusive material from a vessel, duct or lumen in a living being, said flexible catheter system comprising: a catheter body having a proximal end, a distal end, a central lumen, and a guidewire lumen that runs side-by-side the central lumen from the proximal end to near the distal end; a rotary helical aspiration pump, contained within the central lumen in the catheter body, wherein the rotary helical aspiration pump has a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the rotary helical aspiration pump comprises an elongate cylindrical core and a helical member that is secured to an outer surface of the core along an entire axial length of the helical member; and a working head having a distal end, and a proximal end located near the distal end of the rotary helical aspiration pump, wherein the working head comprises a cap having a solid outer wall, wherein the helical member extends into the working head and distally beyond a plurality of inlet ports in the walls of the cap, wherein the cap is generally aligned and continuous with the catheter body and encloses and separates the distal end of the rotary helical aspiration pump from the outside environment except for the plurality of inlet ports which are sized based on a desired suction velocity and an amount of material desired to enter into the cap as the helical member rotates within the central lumen and the working head, wherein the guidewire lumen terminates near the working head, wherein the helical member extends beyond the termination of the guidewire lumen, and wherein the working head comprises a tapered flexible atraumatic tip that is at the very distal end of the catheter system, the tip having a tip lumen at the distal end that is separate from the guidewire lumen such that a guidewire may exit the guidewire lumen, pass alongside the working head and then pass through the tip lumen.