Method for treating vascular occlusion

A thrombus extraction system for removing a vascular thrombus from a blood vessel of a patient, the thrombus extraction system comprising:

• an aspiration catheter configured to be coupled to an aspiration pump and having a lumen and a distal end portion;
• a first elongated member having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the first elongated member being configured to extend along the lumen of the aspiration catheter, and the first elongated member and aspiration catheter being axially moveable with respect to each other;
• a self-expanding filter body coupled to the distal portion of the first elongated member, the filter body including a permeable mesh configured for blood to pass therethrough and having a proximal end portion with a tapered shape and an open distal end sized to conform to an inner wall of the blood vessel when in a deployed state in the blood vessel, wherein the distal end of the filter body is configured to be deployed distally with respect to the distal end portion of the aspiration catheter;
• and
• a separator configured to be positioned distally of the filter body when deployed, wherein the separator is slidable longitudinally with respect to the filter body and configured to break apart thrombolytic material from the vascular thrombus;
• wherein the filter body is adapted for capturing thrombolytic material broken apart from the vascular thrombus by the separator.