A methods of placing large bore aspiration catheters is disclosed. The method of removing a vascular obstruction includes the steps of transvascularly advancing a distal end of an aspiration catheter into proximity with an obstruction, activating a low flow, detection mode of aspiration through the catheter, and thereafter activating a momentary control to activate a high flow, aspiration mode of operation and draw obstructive material into the distal end of the access catheter.

A hemostasis valve may be used with a catheter such as an aspiration catheter. The hemostasis valve comprises a support, and at least a first lever, pivotably carried with respect to the support. A collapsible tubular sidewall defining a valve lumen is carried by the support. A filament is formed into a loop around the tubular sidewall, the filament having at least a first tail portion extending away from the loop to the first lever. A first spring may be configured to move the first lever in a direction that pulls the first tail portion away from the tubular sidewall, reducing the diameter of the valve lumen in response to reducing the diameter of the loop. A second tail portion may extend away from the loop to a second lever. Each tail portion may be attached to its respective lever, or may be slidably advanceable around a fulcrum on the lever and attached with respect to the support.

A split dilator aspiration system is disclosed. The system includes a catheter, having an elongate, flexible tubular body with a proximal end, a distal end, a side wall defining a central lumen, and a handle on the proximal end. A dilator is advanceable through the central lumen, the dilator having an elongate body, cannulated to receive a guidewire, and an axially extending split along at least a portion of the elongate body, configured to allow removal of a portion of the dilator laterally from the guidewire.

Systems and methods for removal of clot material from vessel lumens are disclosed. A medical device assembly can include a catheter having a lumen and a distal portion configured to be positioned at or adjacent a treatment site within a vessel. An expandable member has a first portion coupled to the distal portion of the catheter, and a second portion extending away from the catheter distal portion. An elongate shaft extends through the lumen of the catheter, and the second portion of the expandable member is releasably coupled to the shaft. When the shaft is slidably moved relative to the surrounding catheter, the second portion of the expandable member can be released from the shaft, and the shaft can be withdrawn or removed.

The present invention relates to methods and systems for performing the removal of thrombus from a vessel lumen. More particularly the present invention relates to a thrombectomy system that includes an elongate catheter and a disposable aspiration pump and methods of performing medical procedures to remove clots, thrombus and emboli to re-establish the normal intravascular flow of blood.

A clot retrieval catheter can have an expansile distal tip for flow restriction/arrest and improved aspiration efficiency and a large, distal facing mouth into which clots or other obstructions can be retrieved. The tip can be formed from a distal ring of leaflets or hoops. One or more pull cables can be retracted to actuate and radially expand the expansile distal tip. The clot retrieval catheter can have a catheter shaft with flexibility-adding features proximal of the tip. The catheter shaft can be a multi-lumen configuration with a large catheter lumen for passing auxiliary devices and directing aspiration and one or more guide lumens which can route the pull cables to the leaflets or hoops of the expansile tip. A flexible, low-modulus membrane can be disposed around at least a portion of the expansile tip and catheter shaft.

A catheter including a distal tip section disposed on or adjacent the distal end of the catheter, the distal tip section being invertible about a transition between a catheter body and the distal tip section between a first configuration and a second configuration. Retracting the distal tip section causes the distal tip section to invert about the transition from the first to the second configuration, the second configuration comprising an expansile tip with an open funnel-like distal mouth comprising a larger diameter than a diameter of the transition.

Disclosed are systems for removing embolic material from an intravascular site. An elongate, flexible tubular body has a tubular side wall defining at least one axially extending lumen. An axial restraint is carried by an inner surface of the side wall and exposed to the lumen. A rotatable core wire is extendable through the lumen, and may include an obstruction engaging tip. The core wire has a limit with a distally facing bearing surface for rotatably engaging the restraint. The limit and the restraint are configured to permit rotation of the core wire but limit distal advance of the tip to a predetermined relationship with the distal end of the tubular body.

A stent system according to the present invention is for use in retrieving a blood clot from the brain region and includes a wire; a first stent connected to a distal portion of the wire; a first outer sheath that covers and is fixed to a portion of the wire proximal to the first stent; and a second stent disposed on a portion of the wire proximal to the first stent, in which the second stent is configured to be movable toward or away from the first stent.

The present invention provides a catheter for treating occlusions in blood vessels. The catheter includes at least one electrode pair positioned inside of a flexible angioplasty balloon at the distal end of the catheter. In some designs, the electrode pairs are arranged in a low-profile or coplanar configuration, reducing the diameter of the distal end of the device and permitting treatment of tight and hard-to-cross occlusions. The flexible angioplasty balloon has an extremely low profile and does need to be folded before insertion of the catheter into the cardiovascular system. During treatment, the balloon can be expanded a relatively small amount sufficient to immerse the electrode pairs in a conductive fluid before generating shock waves across the electrodes to treat the occlusion. The balloon can be made of material having elastomeric properties such that it returns to its original low profile configuration when it is deflated following treatment.