# US 10,499,944 B2 · Thrombectomy catheter with control box having pressure/vacuum valve for synchronous aspiration and fluid irrigation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,499,944 B2 - Document ID: US10499944B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/341,224 - Filed: 2016-11-02 - Published: 2017-02-23 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2008-10-13 - Assignees: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. - Applicants: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. - Inventors: Mark Mallaby - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10499944B2 ## CPC - A61B 17/32037: {for removing obstructions from inner organs or blood vessels, e.g. for atherectomy} - A61M 1/77: {Suction-irrigation systems (aspiration tips supplying fluids A61M1/85; specific for negative pressure wound therapy A61M1/92; combined with tracheal tubes A61M16/0463)} - A61M 1/84: {Drainage tubes; Aspiration tips (for negative pressure wound therapy A61M1/90; for surgical cutting instruments A61B17/32)} - A61B 2017/22079: {with suction of debris} - A61B 2217/005: with suction drainage system - A61B 2217/007: with irrigation system - A61M 2205/3317: Electromagnetic, inductive or dielectric measuring means - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} ## Abstract A thrombectomy system comprising an aspiration catheter having an aspiration lumen and a high pressure irrigation lumen, the aspiration catheter having a proximal end and a distal, and a control box fluidly connected to the aspiration catheter and configured to synchronously provide irrigation and vacuum through the aspiration catheter. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A thrombectomy system comprising: a control box adapted to be connected to an aspiration catheter having an aspiration lumen and a high pressure irrigation lumen, the aspiration catheter having a proximal end and a distal end; a vacuum source producing a vacuum; a displacement pump; a fluid source adapted to supply an irrigation fluid; the control box operable to fluidly connect the aspiration lumen of the aspiration catheter to the vacuum source and operable to fluidly connect the high pressure irrigation lumen to the fluid source; wherein the control box is configured to signal the displacement pump to provide pulses of high pressure irrigation fluid in a sinusoidal pressure pattern to the high pressure irrigation lumen when the vacuum is present in the aspiration lumen, and to prevent high pressure irrigation fluid from being provided to the high pressure irrigation lumen when the vacuum is not present in the aspiration lumen; wherein the aspiration lumen has a distal opening and wherein the high pressure irrigation lumen has a distal orifice directed into the aspiration lumen and configured to release a jet of irrigation fluid across a width of the aspiration lumen against an opposing wall of the aspiration lumen, wherein the distal orifice is proximal of the distal opening; wherein the jet forms a spray pattern that interacts with the opposing wall of the aspiration lumen in such a way that embolic material is diluted for aspiration and not forced out of the distal opening. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The thrombectomy system of claim 1, further comprising a control board, wherein the control board is configured to cut power to the pump when a sensed current at the pump is out of a predetermined range. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The thrombectomy system of claim 1, further comprising a control board, wherein the control board is configured to cut power to the pump when a sensed current at the pump drops faster than a preset limit. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The thrombectomy system of claim 1, wherein the vacuum source is a vacuum bottle. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The thrombectomy system of claim 1, wherein the fluid source is a saline bag. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The thrombectomy system of claim 1, further comprising tubing fluidly connecting the control box to the aspiration and high pressure irrigation lumens. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The thrombectomy system of claim 6, wherein operation of the pump produces fluid pressure pulses and wherein the tubing operates to damp the fluid pressure pulses. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The thrombectomy system of claim 7, wherein the tubing comprises a compliant polymeric material. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The thrombectomy system of claim 1, wherein the distal orifice is further configured such that the jet of irrigation fluid is released normal to a longitudinal axis of the aspiration lumen. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The thrombectomy system of claim 1, wherein the distal orifice is further configured such that the jet of irrigation fluid has a spray mist pattern. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The thrombectomy system of claim 1, wherein the aspiration catheter has a variation in stiffness ranging from stiffer at the proximal end to more flexible at the distal end. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The thrombectomy system of claim 1, wherein the sinusoidal pressure pattern comprises distinct variations between peaks and valleys of each sine wave. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The thrombectomy system of claim 1, wherein the control box includes a pressure/vacuum valve interposed along the aspiration lumen between the vacuum source and the distal opening; wherein the pressure/vacuum valve turns the vacuum source on and off synchronously with the high pressure irrigation fluid. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The thrombectomy system of claim 13, wherein the control box responds to irrigation fluid supplied to a first passage within the control box by opening a second passage within the control box which is connected to the aspiration lumen. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The thrombectomy system of claim 14, wherein the pressure/vacuum valve is a mechanical valve such that fluid pressure in the first passage operates the pressure/vacuum valve. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The thrombectomy system of claim 14, further comprising a control board, wherein the control board is configured to cut power to the pump when a sensed vacuum pressure at the second passage is out of a predetermined range. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The thrombectomy system of claim 14, further comprising a priming valve fluidly connecting the first passage and the second passage when opened. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The thrombectomy system of claim 13, wherein the pressure/vacuum valve is controlled electronically.