Patent ID: 8403896

Claim:
An apparatus for aspiration of material from within the body lumen, comprising: a tubular device comprising a proximal end, a distal end sized for introduction into the body lumen, and an aspiration lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends, the tubular device comprising an inner liner defining the aspiration lumen, the inner liner comprising a coating on an inner surface thereof, the coating having properties selected to at least one of decrease resistance to flow of material aspirated through the tubular device and decrease the propensity of aspirated material to clog the aspiration lumen; at least one passive macerating element positioned within the aspiration lumen; and an aspiration source connectable to the tubular device such that the aspiration source communicates with the aspiration lumen to remove material from a body lumen within which the tubular device is introduced, the at least one passive macerating element adapted to passively cut or separate material as it is drawn into the aspiration lumen during aspiration by the aspiration source.