Small molecule activators of interferon regulatory factor (IRF), such as IRF3, and methods of use are provided. In particular, compositions and methods for upregulating interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) activity, such as in the brain following stroke to provide potent protection against ischemic brain injury, to improve a therapeutic time window for providing treatments to stroke patients and/or for enhancement of vaccine platforms are disclosed.

A method for aspirating thrombus in a subject, the method including providing an aspiration catheter having a supply lumen, an aspiration lumen, and a first connector hydraulically coupled to the aspiration lumen. The method further includes providing a pressure sensor having an internal passageway and having a distal connector configured to hydraulically couple to the first connector, a proximal connector configured to couple to a vacuum source, and a valve disposed between the distal connector and the proximal connector, the valve having an open state and a closed state. Following inserting at least a distal portion of the aspiration catheter into the vasculature of a subject, changing the valve from one of the open state and closed state to the other of the open state and closed state such that a change in pressure may be detected by the control circuitry.

A system for aspirating thrombus that includes an aspiration catheter, a tubing set connected to the aspiration catheter, a pressurization element configured to couple to the tubing set and further configured to pressurize fluid from a first fluid source or allow pressurized fluid from the first fluid source to be transferred through a supply lumen of the aspiration catheter, and a sheath through which the aspiration catheter can be advanced.

A system for aspirating thrombus and delivering an agent includes an aspiration catheter having a supply lumen having a proximal end, a distal end, and a wall, and an aspiration lumen having a proximal end, an open distal end, and an interior wall surface adjacent the open distal end, and at least one orifice at or adjacent the distal end of the supply lumen, in fluid communication with the aspiration lumen and located proximally of the open distal end of the aspiration lumen, wherein the at least one orifice is configured to create a spray pattern that is caused to impinge on the interior wall surface of the aspiration lumen such that the spray pattern upon impinging on the interior wall surface is caused to transform into at least a substantially distally-oriented flow capable of exiting the open distal end of the aspiration lumen.

According to one aspect, a method for removing material from a body lumen is disclosed. The method may include positioning a first medical device within the body lumen; and expanding an expandable member at a distal portion of the first medical device from a retracted state to an expanded state. The expandable member may abut the body lumen in the expanded state. The method may further include providing fluid to a fluid lumen of the first medical device, wherein the fluid is deployed into the body lumen; applying an ultrasound signal to the first medical device from a second medical device; and moving the first medical device distally through the body lumen while the expandable member is in an expanded state, to remove material from the body lumen.

An interventional catheter for treating an artery includes an elongated body sized and shaped to be transcervically introduced into a common carotid artery at an access location in the neck. The elongated body has an overall length such that the distal most section can be positioned in an intracranial artery and at least a portion of the proximal most section is positioned in the common carotid artery during use.

A medical device is operable to extend and/or retract elements suitable for a particular purpose. The elements are extended and/or retracted in response to a stress applied by way of stretching and/or retracting the device, among other methods. The elements may remain extended and/or retracted or may recoil back to an initial position upon the removal of the force. In various embodiments, the elements are used to treat or deliver treatment to a target site within a body.

A clot removal system comprises a catheter, a vacuum source, and a controller. The catheter comprises a proximal end, a distal end, and controller operating parameters and defines a lumen configured to be filled with a liquid column having a proximal portion. The vacuum source is configured to supply vacuum. The controller is configured to carry out a control pattern of turning on and off the vacuum based upon the controller operating parameters and is configured to receive the controller operating parameters in an automatic response to the catheter being operatively connected to at least one of the vacuum source and the controller and, responsive to the connection, to carry out the control pattern to change a level of vacuum at the distal end of the catheter.

Method of removing a calculus, such as a kidney stone, from within the calyx involves inserting the distal end portion of a medical tube into the calyx, positioning the distal end portion of the medical tube within a region of the calyx, such as the inferior calyx, while referring to a radiolucent image showing the distal end portion, pumping fluid into the calyx through the lumen of the medical tube, and draining the calculus from inside the calyx through the gap between the inner wall of the calyx and the outer circumferential surface of the distal end portion of the medical tube.

A kit comprising: a urinary catheter comprising a first and a second longitudinal lumens; an ultrasonic transducer disposed about said catheter; a balloon mounted on said catheter, and enclosing said transducer; and a reservoir containing an acoustic coupling medium, wherein: said catheter further comprises a first opening in said first longitudinal lumen, said first opening disposed inside said balloon and configured to inflate said balloon with at least some of said acoustic coupling medium, said catheter further comprises a second opening in said second longitudinal lumen, said second opening disposed outside said balloon and configured to deliver a therapeutic fluid into the urinary bladder, around said balloon, and activation of said transducer in said urinary bladder causes cavitation bubbles to form in said therapeutic fluid adjacent an internal surface of the urinary bladder, and little or no cavitation bubbles are formed in said acoustic coupling medium in said balloon.