Aspirating devices for removal of thrombus/lipid from a body lumen

A catheter for treating a blood vessel having an inner surface and one or more plaque deposits including a core material, comprising:

• an elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;
• a balloon disposed about the elongate shaft for engaging one or more plaque deposits from the inner surface of the blood vessel and extracting the core material therefrom;
• a first venturi section disposed proximally of the balloon;
• and
• a second venturi section disposed distally of the balloon.

A method for treating vulnerable plaque deposits within a blood vessel having an inner surface and one or more plaque deposits containing a core material, comprising the steps of:

• providing a catheter with an elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, a first balloon disposed about a portion of the elongate shaft for engaging one or more plaque deposits and extracting the core material therefrom, a second balloon disposed about a portion of the elongate shaft distal for engaging one or more plaque deposits and extracting core material therefrom, and a first venturi section disposed between the first and second balloons;
• inserting a distal portion of the catheter into the lumen of a blood vessel;
• positioning the first balloon proximate to, and the second balloon distal to, a plaque deposit;
• inflating the balloons;
• delivering a first stream of fluid to the first venturi section;
• and
• collecting the first stream of fluid.

A method for treating vulnerable plaque deposits within a blood vessel, having an inner surface and one or more plaque deposits containing a core material, comprising the steps of:

• providing a catheter with an elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, a balloon disposed about the elongate shaft for engaging one or more plaque deposits and extracting the core material therefrom, a first venturi section disposed proximally of the balloon, and a second venturi section disposed distally of the balloon;
• inserting a distal portion of the catheter into the lumen of a blood vessel;
• positioning the balloon proximate a plaque deposit;
• inflating the balloon;
• delivering a first stream of fluid proximally of the balloon and a second stream of fluid distally of the balloon;
• and
• collecting the first stream of fluid proximally of the balloon and the second stream of fluid distally of the balloon.