Patent ID: 6936060

Claim:
Apparatus for removing emboli during an endarterectomy procedure, the apparatus comprising: a proximal catheter having proximal and distal ends, an aspiration lumen extending therethrough, a blood outlet port at the proximal end, and an occlusion element disposed on the distal end; a distal catheter having proximal and distal ends, an aspiration lumen extending therethrough, a blood outlet port at the proximal end, and an occlusion element disposed on the distal end; a venous return catheter having proximal and distal ends, a lumen extending therethrough, and a blood inlet port in communication with the lumen, a blood outlet port disposed at the distal end; a venous return sheath having a first end coupled to the blood outlet port of the venous return catheter and a second end adapted to be inserted into a patient's venous vasculature; and a manifold including a valve having a first position configured to selectively permit fluid communication between the proximal catheter and venous return catheter, and between a second position configured to permit fluid communication between the distal catheter and the venous return catheter.