Patent ID: 8066677

Claim:
An aspiration catheter for removing particles from a blood vessel, the catheter comprising: an elongate aspiration tube having an aspiration lumen defined by an inner surface of the aspiration tube, the aspiration tube having a proximal end port and a distal end port fluidly connected via the aspiration lumen; and a guidewire tube disposed alongside and not extending proximally beyond a distal portion of the aspiration tube, the guidewire tube having a guidewire lumen defined by an inner surface of the guidewire tube and having a proximal end opening and a distal end opening that are connected via the guidewire lumen, wherein the guidewire tube includes a distal portion in contact with and directly secured to the distal portion of the aspiration tube and a proximal portion defining a detachable strain relief segment that is minimally attached to the distal portion of the aspiration tube, such that a transverse force applied to the guidewire tube transversely detaches only the strain relief segment of the guidewire tube from the aspiration tube.