System for treating embolism and associated devices and methods

A method for the intravascular treatment of clot material from within a blood vessel of a human patient, the method comprising:

• positioning a distal portion of a first catheter at a treatment site proximate to the clot material within the blood vessel;
• coupling a pressure source to the first catheter via a fluid control device, wherein (a) opening of the fluid control device fluidly connects the pressure source to the first catheter and (b) closing of the fluid control device fluidly disconnects the pressure source from the first catheter;
• activating the first pressure source to generate a vacuum while the fluid control device is closed;
• opening the fluid control device to apply the vacuum to the first catheter to thereby aspirate at least a portion of the clot material into the first catheter;
• and
• retracting the first catheter into a distal portion of a second catheter.

A system for the intravascular treatment of clot material from within a blood vessel of a human patient, the system comprising:

• a catheter configured to be intravascularly positioned at a treatment site proximate to the clot material within the blood vessel;
• a tubing assembly coupled to the catheter and including a fluid control device;
• and
• a pressure source to generate negative pressure,
• wherein the pressure source includes a tip configured to be coupled to the tubing assembly,
• wherein the tip defines a bore having a diameter greater than or equal to a diameter of the catheter, and
• wherein the fluid control device is movable between (a) a first position in which the pressure source is fluidly connected to the catheter via the tubing assembly and (b) a second position in which the pressure source is fluidly disconnected from the catheter.

A method for intravascularly positioning an aspiration catheter proximate to clot material within a blood vessel of a human patient, the method comprising:

• advancing the aspiration catheter through the blood vessel toward the clot material;
• opening a valve fluidly connected to the aspiration catheter;
• determining that a distal portion of the aspiration catheter is engaged with the clot material by determining that there is substantially no flow of blood through the valve;
• retracting the aspiration catheter proximally;
• determining that the distal portion of the aspiration catheter is positioned proximal to the clot material by determining that there is a flow of blood through the valve;
• and
• closing the valve.