Mechanically resonant pulse relief valve and methods of use for assisted clearing of plugged aspiration

A method of aspirating an occlusion from a patient, comprising:

• creating an aspiration flow path between an aspiration catheter located adjacent the occlusion and an aspiration source;
• preventing fluid communication between a pressurized fluid source and the aspiration flow path;
• and
• pulsing fluid communication between the pressurized fluid source and the aspiration flow path automatically in response to a clog in the aspiration catheter.

A method of aspirating an occlusion from a patient, comprising:

• creating an aspiration flow path between an aspiration catheter located adjacent the occlusion and an aspiration source;
• preventing fluid communication between a pressurized fluid source and the aspiration flow path;
• and
• pulsing fluid communication between the pressurized fluid source and the aspiration flow path automatically in response to a drop in absolute pressure in the aspiration flow path that creates a negative activation pressure differential between the pressurized fluid source and the aspiration flow path equal to or less than −55 kPa.