Funnel suction catheter

Abstract

In this specification, exemplary treatment systems and methods are presented, which generally involve positioning a suction catheter within a blood vessel such that the funnel opening of the catheter is proximate to an occlusion, suctioning in a proximal direction until the occlusion lodges within the funnel opening, and while continuing suction, simultaneously applying torque to a guide wire or injecting a solution through an infusion catheter, with either the guide wire or the infusion catheter positioned within the lumen of the catheter. The use of either a guide wire or an infusion catheter with simultaneous suction may serve to break up the occlusion and, at the same time, suction fragments of the occlusion in a proximal direction through the catheter.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention generally relates to devices and methods for removing acute occlusions from blood vessels during endovascular medical procedures. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a blood clot retrieval device including a funnel aspiration catheter.

Background Art

[0002] Blood clot retrieval aspiration catheters and devices are often used in mechanical thrombectomy for endovascular intervention when a patient suffers from conditions such as acute ischemic stroke (AIS), myocardial infarction (MI), and pulmonary embolism (PE). In the prior art, access to the neurovascular bed in particular has been difficult because the target vessel has a small diameter, is far from the insertion site, and is very tortuous. Conventional devices often either have too large a profile, lack the deliverability and flexibility required to navigate particularly tortuous blood vessels, or are ineffective at removing blood clots when delivered to the target site.

[0003] Conventional blood clot retrieval catheters have a number of drawbacks. First, the diameter of the catheter itself must be small enough to avoid causing significant discomfort to the patient. The retrieval catheter must also have axial stiffness to provide smooth advancement along the path while being flexible enough to navigate the vascular structure and withstand high strains. When reaching the target site, typical objects retrieved from the body are substantially larger in size than the tip of the catheter, making it more difficult to retrieve the object into the tip. For example, a firm blood clot rich in fibrin may clog the tip of a conventional fixed-orifice catheter and thus may often be difficult to remove. In addition, due to this clogging, the soft portion of the blood clot may be sheared from the firm region.

[0004] Small diameters and fixed tip sizes are also inefficient in inducing the suction necessary for the removal of blood and thrombus material during the procedure. The suction must be strong enough so that any fragmentation that may occur as a result of the use of a suction or mechanical thrombus removal device keeps the fragments stationary so that they do not move distally into the blood vessel and occlude it. However, when suctioning with a fixed port catheter, since the diameter of the funnel catheter is smaller than the blood vessel diameter, a significant portion of the suction flow will come from the blood vessel fluid proximal to the catheter tip where there is no blood clot. This significantly reduces the suction efficiency and the success rate of blood clot removal.

[0005] In addition, conventional blood clot retrieval catheters do not always succeed in completely capturing the blood clot. In such cases, the blood clot may "cork up" or clog at the tip of the catheter, and the physician needs to remove the catheter from the target site to retrieve the blood clot from the patient. During removal of the catheter, a portion of the blood clot remaining outside the catheter tip may break loose and be "released" during withdrawal, potentially returning downstream to clog the blood vessel again. Then, it may become difficult to regain access to the treatment site.

[0006] Catheter designs attempting to overcome these problems need to be able to completely capture the blood clot at the treatment site, suction the blood clot through the catheter, and at the same time prevent the blood clot or fragments of the blood clot from being "released" from the catheter tip.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0007] The present design aims to provide an improved retrieval catheter that addresses the above deficiencies.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] In this specification, exemplary systems and methods of treatment are presented, which generally involve positioning a funnel aspiration catheter within a blood vessel such that the funnel mouth of the catheter is proximate to an occlusion, aspirating proximally until the occlusion clogs the funnel mouth, and while continuing the aspiration, simultaneously applying torque to a guide wire or injecting a solution through an injection catheter, with either the guide wire or the injection catheter positioned within the lumen of the catheter. The use of either the guide wire or the injection catheter may help to break down the occlusion and simultaneously aspirate fragments of the occlusion proximally through the catheter.

[0009] An exemplary system configured to retrieve an occlusion from a blood vessel can include an aspiration catheter and a guide wire. The aspiration catheter can include an elongated body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen sized to receive at least a first portion of the occlusion therein. The aspiration catheter can also include a funnel including a funnel mouth continuous with the distal end of the elongated body and sized to receive at least a second portion of the occlusion therein. The guide wire can be sized to slide through the lumen and can include one or more auger fins disposed at the distal end of the guide wire. The guide wire can be configured to be torqued such that the auger fins break down the occlusion into fragments when one or more of the fragments of the occlusion are aspirated proximally through the aspiration catheter.

[0010] The elongated body of the aspiration catheter can have a single continuous structure and can have a first inner diameter. The funnel mouth can be perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and can have a second inner diameter. The first inner diameter of the elongated body can be smaller than the second inner diameter of the funnel mouth. Thus, the second portion of the occlusion that can be received through the funnel mouth can potentially be larger than the first portion of the occlusion that can be received through the elongated body.

[0011] The guide wire can be configured such that there is a specific distance between the distal end of the guide wire and the funnel mouth of the aspiration catheter so that the guide wire does not extend beyond the distal end of the catheter.

[0012] Each of the auger fins of the guide wire can be of the same size. The auger fins can be sized to have a minimum clearance with the first inner diameter of the elongated body in order to displace the occlusion proximally in conjunction with the suction force. One or more fragments of the occlusion can be aspirated proximally through the funnel mouth and around the auger fins.

[0013] Another exemplary system configured to retrieve an occlusion from a blood vessel can include an aspiration catheter and an infusion. The aspiration catheter can include an elongated body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen sized to receive at least a first portion of the occlusion therein. The aspiration catheter can also include a funnel including a funnel mouth that is continuous with the distal end of the elongated body and sized to receive at least a second portion of the occlusion therein. The infusion catheter can be configured within the lumen of the elongated body and can include an orifice positioned near the distal end of the infusion catheter. The infusion catheter can be configured to generate a jet through the orifice such that when one or more of the fragments of the occlusion are aspirated proximally around the infusion catheter and through the aspiration catheter, the jet breaks down the occlusion into fragments.

[0014] The elongated body of the aspiration catheter can have a single continuous structure and can have a first inner diameter. The funnel mouth can be perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and can have a second inner diameter. The first inner diameter of the elongated body can be smaller than the second inner diameter of the funnel mouth. Thus, the second portion of the occlusion that can be received through the funnel mouth can potentially be larger than the first portion of the occlusion that can be received through the elongated body.

[0015] The distal end of the infusion catheter can be closed. The infusion catheter can be configured such that there is a specific distance between the distal end of the infusion catheter and the funnel mouth of the aspiration catheter so that the infusion catheter does not extend beyond the distal end of the catheter. The infusion catheter can be integral with the elongated body or separated from the elongated body and sized to slide through the lumen of the elongated body.

[0016] An exemplary method of retrieving an occlusion from a blood vessel can include one or more of the following steps performed by one of ordinary skill in the relevant art. The exemplary method can include positioning the aspiration catheter such that the funnel mouth of the funnel disposed at the distal end of the aspiration catheter is proximate to the occlusion. By aspirating through the lumen of the aspiration catheter until the proximal portion of the occlusion clogs the funnel mouth, a negative pressure region can be created within the blood vessel. A thrombolytic device, such as a guide wire or an infusion catheter, can be positioned inside the lumen of the aspiration catheter, and the thrombolytic device can be activated, thereby decomposing the occlusion into fragments and, at the same time, aspirating one or more of the fragments of the occlusion proximally through the aspiration catheter.

[0017] The thrombolytic device can be configured such that there is a specific distance between the distal end of the thrombolytic device and the funnel mouth of the aspiration catheter, and one or more fragments of the occlusion can be aspirated proximally around the thrombolytic device.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0018] The above and further aspects of the present invention will be further considered with reference to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals represent like structural elements and features in the various drawings. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, but rather are primarily directed to illustrating the principles of the present invention. The figures depict one or more implementations of the device of the present invention by way of example and not limitation.

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] As used herein, the terms "about" or "substantially" with respect to any numerical value or numerical range indicate a preferred dimensional tolerance that enables a part of a component or a set of components to function for its intended purpose as described herein. More specifically, "about" or "substantially" may refer to a range of values within ±20% of the recited value. For example, "about 90%" may refer to a range of values from 71% to 99%.

[0020] The exemplary treatment systems and methods described herein generally involve delivering a suction catheter and a thrombus-degrading device, such as an auger-type or wire-loop guide wire or an infusion catheter, to a vascular occlusion, such as a thrombus. The thrombus can be aspirated proximally through the lumen of the suction catheter by the suction catheter and around either the guide wire or the infusion catheter. The exemplary systems and methods are capable of completely capturing the thrombus at the treatment site and aspirating the thrombus through the catheter, while ensuring that the thrombus or smaller fragments of the thrombus do not leave or are not released from the catheter tip.

[0021] In some such embodiments that include a guide wire, the guide wire may have one or more auger fins disposed at the distal end of the guide wire. The guide wire may be torqued so that the blood clot can be decomposed, and the decomposed fragments of the blood clot can be transported proximally around the auger fins and through the aspiration catheter. To further assist in aspirating the blood clot fragments proximally through the aspiration catheter, simultaneous aspiration can also be performed through the aspiration catheter.

[0022] In other such embodiments that include a guide wire, the guide wire may have one or more wire loops disposed at the distal end of the guide wire. The guide wire may be torqued so that the blood clot can be decomposed, and the decomposed fragments of the blood clot can be transported proximally around and / or through the wire loop and through the aspiration catheter via simultaneous aspiration.

[0023] In other such embodiments that include an infusion catheter, the infusion catheter may have an orifice at or near the distal end of the infusion catheter such that a solution (e.g., saline) can be infused through the orifice to create a jet stream. The jet stream can help to decompose the blood clot, while simultaneous aspiration can help to aspirate the decomposed blood clot fragments proximally through the aspiration catheter.

[0024] Various exemplary systems and methods are presented herein. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the features of each example can be combined with those of the other examples.

[0025] Figure 1A is a diagram of an exemplary system 100 during an exemplary blood clot aspiration step. The system 100 includes an apparatus 102 configured to retrieve a blood clot 12 from a blood vessel 10. The apparatus 102 includes an aspiration catheter 104 and a guide wire 112. The aspiration catheter 104 includes an elongated body 106 and a funnel 108. The elongated body 106 includes a proximal end 106a, a distal end 106b, and a lumen 106c sized to receive at least a first portion 12a of the blood clot 12. The funnel 108 is continuous with the distal end 106b of the elongated body 106 and includes a funnel mouth 110 sized to receive at least a second portion 12b (e.g., a proximal portion) of the blood clot 12 therein. The guide wire 112 is sized to slide through the lumen 106c of the elongated body 106 and includes one or more auger fins 114 disposed at the distal end 112a of the guide wire 112.

[0026] During the illustrated step, the negative pressure from the aspiration 16 creates a force on the blood clot 12 to draw the proximal portion 12b of the blood clot 12 into the funnel mouth 110 of the funnel 108. At the same time, torque is applied 22 to the guide wire 112 such that the auger fins 114 can fragment the blood clot 12 into pieces. The auger fins 114 of the guide wire 112 can convey the fragmented pieces of the blood clot 12 proximally 18 through the aspiration catheter 104. The simultaneous aspiration 16 can be used in conjunction with the torquing of the guide wire 112 to assist in supporting or supplementing such conveyance of the fragmented pieces.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 1A, the elongated body 106 includes a single continuous structure having an inner diameter D1. The distal end 106b of the elongated body 106 includes a continuous or seamless connection with the funnel 108. The funnel mouth 110 of the funnel 108 can be perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 14 and has an inner diameter D2. As illustrated, the inner diameter D2 of the funnel mouth 110 is larger than the inner diameter D1 of the elongated body 106, such that the funnel mouth 110 can receive a portion of the blood clot 12 that is larger than the elongated body 106, e.g., the proximal portion 12b of the blood clot 12, e.g., the first portion 12a. That is, once the blood clot 12 is drawn into the funnel mouth 110 by suction 16, torque can be applied to the guide wire 112 so that the auger fin 114 can break down the blood clot 12 and convey smaller fragments of the blood clot in the proximal direction 18 through the suction catheter 104.

[0028] The guide wire 112 is positioned within the lumen 106c of the elongated body 106 such that there is a distance L1 between the distal end 112a of the guide wire 112 and the funnel mouth 110 of the suction catheter 104. This distance L1 serves to prevent the distal end 112a of the guide wire 112 from inadvertently penetrating or puncturing the blood clot 12 and causing a portion of the blood clot 12 to separate from the blood clot outside or distal to the funnel mouth 110. Such a separated portion of the blood clot 12 can re-occlude the blood vessel 10 and pose difficulties for subsequent retrieval. Instead, the distance L1 serves to ensure that the blood clot 12 can be suctioned 16 in the proximal direction 18 such that the blood clot 12 clogs or corks within the funnel mouth 110 before the auger fin 114 begins to break down the blood clot 12. Additionally, this process serves to ensure that the blood clot 12 is broken down inside the funnel 108.

[0029] The auger fins 114 of the guide wire 112 may each be the same size and can be sized to have a minimum clearance with the inner diameter D1 of the elongated body 106. Providing such a minimum clearance helps ensure that the auger fins 114 can independently convey blood clot fragments in the proximal direction 18 of the aspiration catheter 104 and can also do so in conjunction with the suction force 16.

[0030] Figure 1B is a diagram of another exemplary system 100 during an exemplary blood clot aspiration step. Many of the features of the system 100 shown in Figure 1B may be the same as or similar to those shown and described above in Figure 1A. However, in some embodiments, instead of including one or more auger fins 114 disposed at its distal end 112a, the guide wire 112 may instead have a wire loop 214 disposed at its distal end 112a. The wire loop 214 may be configured to break up the blood clot 12 into blood clot fragments when torque is applied to the guide wire 112. That is, once the blood clot 12 is drawn into the funnel mouth 110 by the suction 16, torque can be applied to the guide wire 112 so that the wire loop 214 can break up the blood clot 12, and simultaneously, the smaller fragments of the blood clot can be conveyed in the proximal direction 18, around and / or through the wire loop 214, and through the aspiration catheter 104 by the suction 16.

[0031] Figure 1C is a diagram of another exemplary system 100 during an exemplary blood clot aspiration step. Many of the features of system 100 shown in Figure 1C may be the same as or similar to those shown in and described above with respect to Figures 1A and 1B. However, in some embodiments, guidewire 112 may include a series of wire loops 214 at its distal end 214. Depending on the composition (e.g., size) of blood clot 12, the series of wire loops 214 may provide additional structure for breaking up blood clot 12 into fragments, and simultaneous aspiration 16 may convey smaller blood clot fragments in the proximal direction 18 around and / or through the series of wire loops 214 and through aspiration catheter 104.

[0032] Figures 2A - 2E are diagrams of exemplary treatment steps including the exemplary systems and exemplary steps illustrated in Figures 1A - 1C.

[0033] Figure 2A illustrates the funnel mouth 110 of aspiration catheter 104 positioned near blood clot 12 at a bifurcation of blood vessel 10 and in the proximal direction 18 of blood clot 12.

[0034] Figure 2B illustrates the suction force 16 applied in the proximal direction 18 through aspiration catheter 104 until the proximal portion 12b of blood clot 12 clogs or corks up the funnel mouth 110 of aspiration catheter 104.

[0035] Figure 2C illustrates guidewire 112 positioned inside the lumen 106c of the elongated body 106 of aspiration catheter 104, near and proximal to the funnel mouth 110 of aspiration catheter 104. Guidewire 112 includes an auger fin 114 at its distal end 112a and is positioned such that there is a distance L1 (Figure 1A) between the distal end 112a of guidewire 112 and the funnel mouth 110.

[0036] FIG. 2D illustrates applying torque 22 to guidewire 112 such that auger fin 114 begins to rotate into and / or relative to proximal portion 12b of blood clot 12. At the same time, suction force 16 is again applied in the proximal direction 18 through suction catheter 104 to assist in suctioning the fragmented blood clot in the proximal direction 18 as blood clot fragments begin to separate from blood clot 12.

[0037] FIG. 2E illustrates a blood clot fragment or first portion 12a of blood clot 12 that is fragmented by torque-applied auger fin 114 and simultaneously suctioned in the proximal direction 18 through suction catheter 104. Through the treatment method described above, blood clot 12 may remain clogged or corked within the funnel mouth 110 of suction catheter 104.

[0038] FIG. 3 is a diagram of another exemplary system 300 during an exemplary blood clot suction step. System 300 includes an apparatus 302 configured to retrieve blood clot 12 from blood vessel 10. Apparatus 302 includes a suction catheter 304 and an infusion catheter 312. Suction catheter 304 includes an elongated body 306 and a funnel 308. Elongated body 306 includes a proximal end 306a, a distal end 306b, and a lumen 306c sized to receive at least a first portion 12a of blood clot 12. Funnel 308 is continuous with distal end 306b of elongated body 306 and includes a funnel mouth 310 sized to receive at least a second portion 12b (e.g., proximal portion) of blood clot 12 therein. Infusion catheter 312 is configured within lumen 306c of elongated body 306 and includes an orifice 314 positioned near distal end 312a of infusion catheter 312.

[0039] During the illustrated steps, the negative pressure from aspiration 16 creates a force on blood clot 12 to draw the proximal portion 12b of blood clot 12 into the funnel opening 310 of funnel 308. At the same time, a solution (e.g., saline) is injected through orifice 314 to create a jet stream 316 that breaks up blood clot 12 into fragments as one or more of the fragments of blood clot 12 are aspirated proximally 18 through aspiration catheter 304.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 3, the distal end 312a of injection catheter 312 is closed except for orifice 314 positioned near distal end 312a. Injection catheter 312 is configured within the lumen 106c of elongate body 106 such that there is a distance L2 between the distal end 312a of injection catheter 312 and the funnel opening 110 of aspiration catheter 104. This distance L2 serves to ensure that jet stream 316 does not inadvertently separate a portion of blood clot 12 that is outside or distal to funnel opening 310. Instead, distance L2 serves to ensure that blood clot 12 can be aspirated 16 proximally 18 such that blood clot 12 plugs or corks up within funnel opening 310 before jet stream 316 begins to break up blood clot 12. Additionally, this process serves to ensure that blood clot 12 is broken down inside funnel 308.

[0041] As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, injection catheter 312 can be configured to be integral with elongate body 306 or, as further described below with respect to FIGS. 5 and 6, separated from elongate body 306 and sized to slide through lumen 306c.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 3, injection catheter 312 is integral with elongate body 306 such that it is connected to the inner wall of elongate body 306. As shown in FIG. 4, which illustrates a cross-sectional view of device 302, injection catheter 312 can be connected or integrated with the inner wall of elongate body 306, for example, by sleeve S1, such that aspiration catheter 304 and injection catheter 312 can be configured as a single device for simultaneous delivery to a patient's treatment site.

[0043] Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the infusion catheter 312 may be separated from the aspiration catheter 304. That is, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the infusion catheter 312 is positioned within the lumen 306c of the elongated body 306 and can modify, for example, the placement of the jet 316 relative to the funnel mouth 310, the funnel 308, the blood clot 12, and the like.

[0044] FIGS. 7A-7C are diagrams of exemplary treatment steps including the exemplary system and exemplary steps illustrated in FIG. 3.

[0045] FIG. 7A illustrates the funnel mouth 310 of the aspiration catheter 304 in the vicinity of the blood clot 12 at the bifurcation of the blood vessel 10 and positioned in the proximal direction 18 of the blood clot 12. The infusion catheter 312 is integrated with the aspiration catheter 304.

[0046] FIG. 7B illustrates the suction force 16 applied in the proximal direction 18 through the aspiration catheter 304 until the proximal portion 12b of the blood clot 12 clogs or corks up the funnel mouth 310 of the aspiration catheter 304.

[0047] FIG. 7C illustrates injecting a solution through the infusion catheter 312 and through the orifice 314 of the infusion catheter 312 to thereby generate a jet 316 and initiate the breakdown of the proximal portion 12b of the blood clot 12, while the broken-off fragments, or the first portion 12a of the blood clot 12, are aspirated in the proximal direction 18 through the aspiration catheter 304.

[0048] FIG. 8A is a schematic diagram of an exemplary treatment method 800 including the exemplary system and exemplary steps illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 2A-2E.

[0049] In block 802, an operator (e.g., a physician) can position the aspiration catheter 104 within the patient's blood vessel 10 such that the funnel mouth 110 of the funnel 108 is proximate to the blood clot 12 (FIG. 2A).

[0050] At block 804, the operator can then initiate suction 16 in the proximal direction 18 through the aspiration catheter 104 until the proximal portion 12b of the blood clot 12 clogs within the funnel mouth 110 (FIG. 2B).

[0051] At block 806, the operator can position the guide wire 112 inside the lumen 106c of the aspiration catheter 104. The guide wire 112 can include one or more auger fins 114 disposed at the distal end 112a of the guide wire 112 (FIG. 2C).

[0052] At block 808, the operator can apply torque to the guide wire 112, thereby rotating or screwing in the auger fins 114, as a result of which the auger fins 114 begin to break down the blood clot 12 (FIG. 2D). At the same time, the operator again applies suction 16 in the proximal direction 18 to suction the broken blood clot fragments of the blood clot 12 in the proximal direction 18 around the auger fins 114 through the aspiration catheter 104 (FIG. 2E).

[0053] FIG. 8B is a schematic diagram of an exemplary treatment method 800a including the exemplary system and exemplary steps illustrated in FIG. 1B or FIG. 1C. The descriptions of blocks 802a and 804a of method 800a may be the same as or similar to the respective descriptions of blocks 802 and 804 of method 800, and thus are not repeated herein for the sake of brevity.

[0054] At block 806a, the operator can position the guide wire 112 inside the lumen 106c of the aspiration catheter 104. The guide wire 112 can include one or more wire loops 214 disposed at the distal end 112a of the guide wire 112.

[0055] At block 808a, the operator can apply torque to the guide wire 112, thereby rotating one or more wire loops 214 so that the wire loop 214 begins to break up the blood clot 12. At the same time, the operator may apply suction 16 in the proximal direction 18 around and / or through the wire loop 214 and also through the suction catheter 104.

[0056] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary treatment method 900 including an exemplary system and exemplary steps illustrated in any of FIGS. 3, 4, and 7A - 7C, or FIGS. 5 and 6.

[0057] At block 902, the operator (e.g., a physician) can position the suction catheter 304 within the patient's blood vessel 10 such that the funnel mouth 310 of the funnel 308 is proximate to the blood clot 12 (FIG. 7A). As described above, the suction catheter 304 can include an integrated infusion catheter 312 (FIGS. 3, 4, 7A - 7C), or an infusion catheter 312 separate from the suction catheter 304 (FIGS. 5 and 6). When using the suction catheter 304 with the integrated infusion catheter 312, the operator can deliver a single device 302 to the treatment site of the patient. Alternatively, when using the suction catheter 304 with a separate infusion catheter 312, the operator may need to separately deliver the suction catheter 304 and the infusion catheter 312 to the treatment site. For example, the operator can first deliver the suction catheter 304 to the treatment site and then slide the infusion catheter 312 within the suction catheter 304.

[0058] At block 904, the operator can initiate suction 16 in the proximal direction 18 through the suction catheter 304 until the proximal portion 12b of the blood clot 12 is clogged within the funnel mouth 310 (FIG. 7B).

[0059] At block 906, the operator can inject a solution through the infusion catheter 312, thereby generating a jet flow 316 through the orifice 314 of the infusion catheter 312. While the jet flow 316 can break down the blood clot 12, the operator simultaneously aspirates the broken blood clot fragments of the blood clot 12 in the proximal direction 18 through the aspiration catheter 304 (FIG. 7C).

[0060] The descriptions contained herein are examples of embodiments of the present invention and do not limit the scope of the present invention in any way. As described herein, the present invention contemplates many variations and modifications of structures and methods, including alternative materials, alternative configurations of component parts, and alternative method steps. Changes and modifications that are obvious to those skilled in the art in light of the teachings of this disclosure are intended to be within the scope of the following claims.

[0061] 〔Embodiment〕 (1) An apparatus configured to retrieve an occlusion from a blood vessel, the apparatus comprising: An aspiration catheter, An elongated body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen sized to receive at least a first portion of the occlusion therein; A funnel continuous with the distal end of the elongated body and having a funnel mouth sized to receive at least a second portion of the occlusion therein; and an aspiration catheter; A guide wire sized to slide through the lumen and having one or more auger fins disposed at the distal end of the guide wire; and a guide wire; The guide wire is configured to be torqued such that when one or more of the fragments of the occlusion are aspirated proximally through the aspiration catheter, the one or more auger fins break down the occlusion into the fragments. An apparatus. (2) The apparatus according to embodiment 1, wherein the elongated body comprises a single continuous structure. (3) The apparatus according to embodiment 1, wherein the funnel mouth is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. (4) The apparatus according to Embodiment 1, wherein the second portion of the occlusion is larger than the first portion of the occlusion. (5) The apparatus according to Embodiment 1, wherein the elongated body has a first inner diameter, the funnel mouth has a second inner diameter, and the first inner diameter is smaller than the second inner diameter.

[0062] (6) The apparatus according to Embodiment 5, wherein each of the one or more auger fins is sized to have a minimum clearance with the first inner diameter to displace the occlusion in the proximal direction in conjunction with the suction force. (7) The apparatus according to Embodiment 1, wherein each of the one or more auger fins is of the same size. (8) The apparatus according to Embodiment 1, wherein the one or more fragments of the occlusion are configured to be suctioned in the proximal direction around the one or more auger fins. (9) The apparatus according to Embodiment 1, wherein the one or more fragments of the occlusion are configured to be suctioned through the funnel mouth of the suction catheter. (10) The apparatus according to Embodiment 1, wherein the guide wire is configured such that there is a distance between the distal end of the guide wire and the funnel mouth of the suction catheter.

[0063] (11) An apparatus configured to retrieve an occlusion from a blood vessel, the apparatus comprising: A suction catheter, comprising: An elongated body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen sized to receive at least a first portion of the occlusion therein; A funnel continuous with the distal end of the elongated body and having a funnel mouth sized to receive at least a second portion of the occlusion therein; An injection catheter within the lumen, the injection catheter having an orifice positioned near the distal end of the injection catheter. The infusion catheter is configured to generate a jet stream through the orifice such that when one or more of the fragments of the occlusion are aspirated proximally through the aspiration catheter, the jet stream decomposes the occlusion into the fragments. (12) The apparatus according to embodiment 11, wherein the elongated body comprises a single continuous structure. (13) The apparatus according to embodiment 11, wherein the funnel mouth is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. (14) The apparatus according to embodiment 11, wherein the elongated body has a first inner diameter, the funnel mouth has a second inner diameter, and the first inner diameter is smaller than the second inner diameter. (15) The apparatus according to embodiment 11, wherein the one or more fragments of the occlusion are configured to be aspirated proximally around the infusion catheter.

[0064] (16) The apparatus according to embodiment 11, wherein the distal end of the infusion catheter is closed. (17) The apparatus according to embodiment 11, wherein the infusion catheter is configured such that there is a distance between the distal end of the infusion catheter and the funnel mouth of the aspiration catheter. (18) The infusion catheter is integral with the elongated body or separated from the elongated body and sized to slide through the lumen, and is configured as such. The apparatus according to embodiment 11. (19) A method of retrieving an occlusion from a blood vessel, the method comprising: positioning the aspiration catheter such that the funnel mouth of a funnel disposed at the distal end of the aspiration catheter is close to the occlusion, wherein the aspiration catheter comprises an elongated body, positioning such that the funnel is continuous with the distal end of the elongated body, aspirating proximally through the aspiration catheter until the proximal portion of the occlusion clogs within the funnel mouth, Positioning a thrombus decomposing device inside the lumen of the aspiration catheter; Actuating the thrombus decomposing device to thereby decompose the occlusion into fragments and simultaneously aspirating one or more of the fragments of the occlusion proximally through the aspiration catheter. A method comprising these steps. (20) The method according to embodiment 19, wherein the thrombus decomposing device is configured such that there is a distance between the distal end of the thrombus decomposing device and the funnel mouth of the aspiration catheter, and one or more of the fragments of the occlusion are configured to be aspirated proximally around the thrombus decomposing device.

Claims

1. An apparatus configured to retrieve an occlusion from a blood vessel, the apparatus comprising: A suction catheter, An elongated body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen sized to receive at least a first portion of the occlusion therein; A funnel continuous with the distal end of the elongated body and having a funnel mouth sized to receive at least a second portion of the occlusion therein, the suction catheter comprising: A guide wire sized to slide through the lumen, the guide wire having one or more auger fins disposed at a distal end of the guide wire; The guide wire is configured to be torqued such that when one or more fragments of the occlusion are suctioned proximally through the suction catheter, the one or more auger fins break up the occlusion into the fragments.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the elongated body comprises a single continuous structure.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the funnel mouth is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second portion of the occlusion is larger than the first portion of the occlusion.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the elongated body has a first inner diameter, the funnel mouth has a second inner diameter, and the first inner diameter is smaller than the second inner diameter.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein each of the one or more auger fins is sized to have a minimum clearance with the first inner diameter for displacing the occlusion proximally in conjunction with the suction force.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more auger fins is the same size.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more fragments of the occlusion are configured to be suctioned proximally around the one or more auger fins.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more fragments of the occlusion are configured to be suctioned through the funnel mouth of the suction catheter.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the guide wire is configured to have a distance between the distal end of the guide wire and the funnel mouth of the suction catheter.

11. An apparatus configured to retrieve an occlusion from a blood vessel, the apparatus comprising: A suction catheter comprising: An elongated body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen sized to receive at least a first portion of the occlusion therein; A funnel continuous with the distal end of the elongated body and having a funnel mouth sized to receive at least a second portion of the occlusion therein; An injection catheter within the lumen and having an orifice positioned near the distal end of the injection catheter; The injection catheter being configured to generate a jet stream through the orifice such that the jet stream decomposes the occlusion into the fragments when one or more of the fragments of the occlusion are suctioned proximally through the suction catheter. **Claim 12** The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the elongated body comprises a single continuous structure. **Claim 13** The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the funnel mouth is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. **Claim 14** The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the elongated body has a first inner diameter, the funnel mouth has a second inner diameter, and the first inner diameter is smaller than the second inner diameter. **Claim 15** The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the one or more fragments of the occlusion are configured to be suctioned proximally around the injection catheter. **Claim 16** The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the distal end of the injection catheter is closed. **Claim 17** The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the injection catheter is configured to have a distance between the distal end of the injection catheter and the funnel mouth of the suction catheter. **Claim 18** The injection catheter is Integral with the elongated body or Separated from the elongated body and sized to slide through the lumen, as claimed in claim 11.

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