Patent ID: 8475487

Claim:
A thrombectomy catheter comprising: a catheter tube having a distal end and a proximal end; a porous cage distally located on the catheter tube, the porous cage characterized as capable of radial expansion and radial contraction; a proximally located control means regulating radial expansion and radial contraction of the porous cage; at least one outflow orifice and at least one inflow orifice situated on the catheter tube adjacent the distal end of the catheter, wherein the at least one outflow orifice and the at least one inflow orifice are located within the porous cage; a manifold connected to the proximal end of the catheter tube, the manifold providing for connection to pressurizing and/or evacuation equipment and providing fluid communication with the at least one outflow orifice and the at least one inflow orifice, such that a cross stream jet may be established between the at least one outflow orifice and the at least one inflow orifice, and the at least one outflow orifice is configured to direct the cross stream jet radially out toward the porous cage; and a sheath slidably coupled over the catheter tube, the sheath is movable between a cage covering position and a cage exposing position, in the cage covering position the sheath covers the porous cage, in the cage exposing position the sheath uncovers the porous cage; wherein the porous cage has a distal end and a proximal end; wherein the distal end of the porous cage is fixed to the catheter tube and the proximal end of the porous cage is free floating and movable along and over the catheter tube; and wherein the proximally located control means includes a manual actuator longitudinally slidable over a proximally located segment of the catheter tube, the manual actuator operating the sheath extending distally over the catheter tube and connecting to the free floating and movable proximal end of the porous cage.