# US 11,896,757 B2 · Neurovascular distal access support catheters, aspiration catheters, or device shafts > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,896,757 B2 - Document ID: US11896757B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/832,191 - Filed: 2022-06-03 - Published: 2022-11-17 - Granted: 2024-02-13 - Earliest claimed: 2018-07-20 - Assignees: eLum Technologies, Inc. - Applicants: eLum Technologies, Inc. - Inventors: Quang Tran; Noelle Bagnall; Victor Barajas - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11896757B2 ## CPC - A61M 1/84: {Drainage tubes; Aspiration tips (for negative pressure wound therapy A61M1/90; for surgical cutting instruments A61B17/32)} - A61B 17/221: Gripping devices in the form of loops or baskets {for gripping calculi or similar types of obstructions (surgical snare instruments A61B17/32056)} - A61M 25/0051: {made from fenestrated or weakened tubing layer} - A61M 25/0054: {with regions for increasing flexibility} - A61M 25/0138: {having flexible regions as a result of weakened outer material, e.g. slots, slits, cuts, joints or coils} - A61M 1/71: {Suction drainage systems (containers therefor A61M1/60, A61M1/64; negative pressure wound therapy systems A61M1/90)} - A61M 1/79: {Filters for solid matter (specially adapted for dental use A61C17/065)} - A61M 25/0015: {Making lateral openings in a catheter tube, e.g. holes, slits, ports, piercings of guidewire ports; Methods for processing the holes, e.g. smoothing the edges} - A61M 25/0045: {multi-layered, e.g. coated (coating materials A61L29/08)} - A61M 25/0053: {having a variable stiffness along the longitudinal axis, e.g. by varying the pitch of the coil or braid} - A61M 2025/0042: {Microcatheters, cannula or the like having outside diameters around 1 mm or less} - A61M 2025/0681: {Systems with catheter and outer tubing, e.g. sheath, sleeve or guide tube} - A61M 2025/091: {having a lumen for drug delivery or suction} - 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)} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A catheter or shaft, such as a distal access support or aspiration catheter, is provided that is configured to be advanced at least partially within a patient. The catheter or shaft may include a flexible and hollow shaft including a proximal end and a distal end. The flexible and hollow shaft may include a slotted portion with a plurality of slotted openings, the slotted portion including a first segment with a first pattern of slotted openings and a second segment extending proximally relative the first segment with a second pattern of slotted openings different from the first pattern. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An aspiration catheter configured to be advanced at least partially within a patient proximate to an obstruction to aspirate the obstruction therefrom, the aspiration catheter comprising: a flexible and hollow shaft including a proximal end and a distal end, the flexible and hollow shaft including a first segment with a first pattern of slotted openings and a second segment extending proximally relative to the first segment with a second pattern of slotted openings, the second pattern of slotted openings having a different slot angle and longitudinal spacing than the first pattern of slotted openings, wherein the first pattern includes a first repeating helical pattern of cut and uncut portions extending circumferentially around and along a length of the first segment and wherein the second pattern includes a second repeating helical pattern of cut and uncut portions extending circumferentially around and along a length of the second segment, wherein a combined arc length of circumferentially adjacent cut and uncut portions along the helical pattern of the first pattern or second pattern is between 100 degrees and 180 degrees. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The aspiration catheter of claim 1, wherein the longitudinal spacing between the slotted openings of the first pattern at a distal portion of the first segment is smaller relative to the longitudinal spacing between the slotted openings of the second pattern at a proximal portion of the second segment such that a density of the slotted openings at the distal portion is greater relative to a density of the slotted openings at the proximal portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The aspiration catheter of claim 1, wherein the helical pattern of cut and uncut portions of the first or second patterns extending circumferentially around and along a length of the first or second segments alternates between cut and uncut portions such that uncut portions extend between two cut portions. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The aspiration catheter of claim 1, wherein the first segment and the second segment together comprise a slotted portion configured to provide the flexible and hollow shaft with flexibility to traverse at least two bends having angles of at least 90 degrees during advancement through the patient. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The aspiration catheter of claim 4, wherein the slotted portion is configured to provide the flexible and hollow shaft with flexibility to traverse at least three bends having angles of at least 90 degrees during advancement through the patient. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The aspiration catheter of claim 1, wherein the first segment and the second segment together comprise a slotted portion, wherein a ratio of an area of the slotted portion of the flexible and hollow shaft without slotted openings relative to an area of the slotted portion with slotted openings has a value up to 50%. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The aspiration catheter of claim 1, wherein the slotted openings are laser-cut. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The aspiration catheter of claim 1, wherein the flexible and hollow shaft comprises at least one of a non-slotted portion extending proximally relative the slotted portion or a non-slotted portion extending distally relative the slotted portion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The aspiration catheter of claim 1, wherein the flexible and hollow shaft comprises a hypotube. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The aspiration catheter of claim 1, wherein the flexible and hollow shaft is constructed out of one or more of stainless steel, nitinol, chromium, cobalt, platinum, or polymer. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The aspiration catheter of claim 1, wherein the flexible and hollow shaft is operably coupled to or in fluid communication with one or more of a catheter control handle, aspiration source, inflation source, or fluid delivery source. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The aspiration catheter of claim 1, wherein the flexible and hollow shaft does not include a coil or braided material. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The aspiration catheter of claim 1, further comprising an outer liner extending coaxially around the flexible and hollow shaft. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The aspiration catheter of claim 13, wherein the outer liner has a uniform hardness along its length. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The aspiration catheter of claim 13, wherein the flexible and hollow shaft does not include an inner liner extending coaxially within the flexible and hollow shaft. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The aspiration catheter of claim 1, wherein the first pattern includes a first repeating helical pattern of cut and uncut portions extending circumferentially around and along a length of the first segment and wherein the second pattern includes a second repeating helical pattern of cut and uncut portions extending circumferentially around and along a length of the second segment, wherein the first repeating helical pattern is different than the second repeating helical pattern. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The aspiration catheter of claim 16, wherein the first helical pattern is defined by a first cuts-per-revolution, and the second helical pattern is defined by a second cuts-per-revolution, and wherein the first cuts-per-revolution is different than the second cuts-per-revolution. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The aspiration catheter of claim 16, wherein the uncut portions of the first helical pattern are shorter than the uncut portions of the second helical pattern.