Suction catheter systems with designs allowing rapid clearing of clots

A method for using a suction catheter system for removal of thrombus from the vasculature of a patient, the suction catheter system comprising a guide catheter having a lumen, a suction extension catheter having a tubular portion with a distal opening and a control structure, proximal fittings connected at the proximal end of the guide catheter with a first fitting element having a first hemostatic valve configured to provide access into the lumen of the first fitting element, and a docking branched manifold comprising a distal portion that can insert partially through the first hemostatic valve with a hemostatic seal, a first branch with a second hemostatic valve, and a second branch connected to a flush fluid source, wherein with the proximal end of the suction extension catheter within the lumen of the guide catheter, a suction lumen extends from the negative pressure device to a distal opening of a tubular section of the suction catheter extension and wherein the proximal end of the tubular section of the suction catheter extension can dock in the distal portion of the docking manifold to form a fluid channel from the second branch through the suction extension catheter, the method comprising

• aspirating fluid from the vasculature of a patient into the distal opening of the suction extension catheter;
• withdrawing the tubular portion of the suction extension catheter using the control structure to dock the proximal end of the tubular portion in the distal section of the docking branched manifold;
• removing the docking branched manifold and the suction extension catheter from the proximal fitting through the first hemostatic valve;
• and
• flushing the suction extension catheter to remove debris from the suction extension catheter.

A suction catheter system comprising:

• a guide catheter comprising a tubular shaft with a central lumen having a proximal end and a distal opening;
• a suction extension catheter comprising a connecting section with a central lumen, a tubular extension comprising a tube that is connected with the connecting section and extends from the connecting section in a distal direction to form a continuous lumen through the central lumen of the connecting section through the tube of the tubular extension, and a control structure comprising an elongated structure extending from the connecting section in a proximal direction and a knob at or near the proximal end of elongated structure configured to manipulate the control structure, wherein the connecting section is configured to slide within at least a portion of the central lumen of the guide catheter to change the relative position of the connecting section within the central lumen and provide for at least a portion of the tubular extension to extend outward from the distal opening of the tubular shaft at appropriate configurations of the connecting section;
• and
• proximal fittings connected to the proximal end of the guide catheter, the proximal fittings comprising a first hemostatic valve,
• wherein the handle has a diameter that is larger than the connecting section so the tubular extension, the connecting section and the control structure distal to the handle can pass through a valve that does not allow passage of the handle and wherein a length between a distal opening of the suction extension catheter and the handle defines a distance preventing the connecting section from exiting a distal opening of the guide catheter.