Patent ID: 6960189

Claim:
Apparatus suitable for facilitating aspiration through a working lumen of a catheter, the apparatus comprising: a handle having proximal and distal ends, and a bore extending therebetween, wherein the handle is coupled to the catheter so that the bore is in fluid communication with the working lumen of the catheter; at least one hemostatic port coupled to the apparatus, wherein the hemostatic port is in fluid communication with the working lumen; an external port coupled to the handle that is in fluid communication with the working lumen of the catheter; a blood outlet port coupled to the handle, wherein the blood outlet port is in fluid communication with the working lumen of the catheter; a one-way check valve disposed between the handle and the blood outlet port; and wherein the handle enables natural aspiration to be provided through the working lumen via the blood outlet port, and further enables suction-assisted aspiration or infusion to be provided through the working lumen via the external port.