Aspiration catheter with automatic sensing

A thrombectomy system, comprising:

• a processor coupled to a pump and a thrombectomy catheter, wherein the thrombectomy catheter includes:
• an effluent return tube comprising a catheter body extending from a proximal end region to a distal end region and including a catheter lumen extending between the proximal end region and the distal end region;
• a high-pressure fluid supply tube extending through the catheter lumen from the catheter body proximal end region toward the catheter body distal end region, the high-pressure fluid supply tube configured for communication with a fluid source near the catheter body proximal end region;
• a sensor releasably coupled relative to the catheter body and configured to monitor a flow of fluid through the catheter lumen.

A method for detecting a thrombus, the method comprising:

• inserting a thrombectomy catheter into a lumen, the thrombectomy catheter comprising:
• an effluent return tube comprising a catheter body extending from a proximal end region to a distal end region and including a catheter lumen extending between the proximal end region and the distal end region;
• a high-pressure fluid supply tube extending through the catheter lumen from the catheter body proximal end region toward the catheter body distal end region, the high-pressure fluid supply tube configured for communication with a fluid source near the catheter body proximal end region;
• and
• a sensor releasably coupled relative to the catheter body and configured to monitor a flow of fluid through the catheter lumen;
• determining a pressure or a flow rate of the fluid in the catheter lumen from a signal from the sensor;
• determining the distal end region of the catheter body is in contact with a thrombus when the pressure or flow rate is less than a predetermined threshold for a first predetermined length of time.