Cyclic aspiration system with a non-powered internal structural impediment engaging with a clot assisting in capture

A method for using a cyclic aspiration system including:

• an aspiration catheter having a proximal end, an opposite distal end, respective outer and inner walls extending in a longitudinal direction from the proximal end to the distal end defining therein a lumen;
• a cyclic aspiration source connected in fluid communication to the proximal end of the aspiration catheter;
• the cyclic aspiration pressure source producing a cyclic aspiration pressure waveform of intermittently cycling intervals of a vacuum pressure below atmospheric pressure and a positive pressure higher than the vacuum pressure;
• and
• a non-powered internal structural impediment disposed within the lumen of the aspiration catheter and configured to engage with a clot capturable therein during resulting movement between the clot and the internal structural impediment while subject to the cyclic aspiration pressure waveform, the non-powered internal structural impediment are flaps transitionable between an open state and a closed state in response to:
• (i) the cyclic aspiration pressure waveform;
• (ii) movement of the clot;
• and/or (iii) an ancillary device advanced in a distal direction through the lumen of the aspiration catheter;
• the method comprising the steps of:
• either simultaneously or in series, advancing through a vessel to a target site on a proximal side of the clot the aspiration catheter and the non-powered internal structural impediment;
• applying the cyclic aspiration pressure waveform to the aspiration catheter to capture the clot;
• and
• engaging of the clot and the non-powered internal structural impediment during resulting relative movement between the clot and the non-powered internal structural impediment while subject to the cyclic aspiration pressure waveform.

A cyclic aspiration system comprising:

• an aspiration catheter having a proximal end, an opposite distal end, respective outer and inner walls extending in a longitudinal direction from the proximal end to the distal end defining therein a lumen;
• a cyclic aspiration source connected in fluid communication to the proximal end of the aspiration catheter;
• the cyclic aspiration pressure source producing a cyclic aspiration pressure waveform of intermittently cycling intervals of a vacuum pressure below atmospheric pressure and a positive pressure higher than the vacuum pressure;
• a non-powered internal structural impediment disposed within the lumen of the aspiration catheter and configured to engage with a clot capturable therein during resulting movement between the clot and the non-powered internal structural impediment while subject to the cyclic aspiration pressure waveform;
• and
• a supplemental non-powered internal structural impediment as a section of the aspiration catheter axially compressible and expandable together with the clot capturable therein in response to the cyclic aspiration pressure waveform.

A method for using a cyclic aspiration system including:

• an aspiration catheter having a proximal end, an opposite distal end, respective outer and inner walls extending in a longitudinal direction from the proximal end to the distal end defining therein a lumen;
• a cyclic aspiration source connected in fluid communication to the proximal end of the aspiration catheter;
• the cyclic aspiration pressure source producing a cyclic aspiration pressure waveform of intermittently cycling intervals of a vacuum pressure below atmospheric pressure and a positive pressure higher than the vacuum pressure;
• a non-powered internal structural impediment disposed within the lumen of the aspiration catheter and configured to engage with a clot capturable therein during resulting movement between the clot and the internal structural impediment while subject to the cyclic aspiration pressure waveform;
• a supplemental non-powered internal structural impediment as a section of the aspiration catheter axially compressible and expandable together with the clot capturable therein in response to the cyclic aspiration pressure waveform;
• the method comprising the steps of:
• either simultaneously or in series, advancing through a vessel to a target site on a proximal side of the clot the aspiration catheter and the non-powered internal structural impediment;
• applying the cyclic aspiration pressure waveform to the aspiration catheter to capture the clot;
• and
• engaging of the clot and the non-powered internal structural impediment during resulting relative movement between the clot and the non-powered internal structural impediment while subject to the cyclic aspiration pressure waveform.