Thrombectomy catheter and system

An elongated device for treatment of thrombus or other unwanted material in a vessel or cavity of a living body comprising:

• a. a proximal end and a distal end;
• b. high pressure tubular means for conveying pressurized fluid from said proximal end to said distal end;
• c. pressurized fluid connection means for connecting the proximal end of said high pressure tubular means to a source of pressurized fluid;
• d. jet emanator means with at least one jet orifice for directing at least one high velocity fluid jet in the vicinity of said distal end, said jet emanator means being attached to and in fluid communication with said high pressure tubular means;
• e. second tubular means for conveying fluid, at least one of said jet orifices directing at least one high velocity fluid jet into said second tubular means;
• f. combination inflow/outflow means, with inflow portion and outflow portion, in said second tubular means, oriented so that at least one high velocity fluid jet entrains and draws surrounding blood or other fluid from a body vessel or cavity through said inflow portion of said combination inflow/outflow means and into said second tubular means, and creating a region of elevated pressure in said second tubular means;
• g. said outflow portion of said combination inflow/outflow means in said second tubular means located at said region of elevated pressure, said outflow portion thereby providing for passage of fluid out from said second tubular means into a body vessel or cavity, creating one or more cross stream jets which provide force (normal and/or drag forces) which help to break thrombus or other unwanted material off the surface of a body vessel or cavity;
• h. at least one high velocity jet(s) act to break apart thrombus or other unwanted material which has been entrained by said high velocity jet(s);
• and,
• i. said high velocity jet(s), said inflow portion of said combination inflow/outflow means, and said outflow portion of said combination inflow/outflow means create a recirculation pattern so that fluid flows from said outflow portion of said combination inflow/outflow means with radial flow vectors and circumferential and/or axial flow vectors to said inflow portion of said combination inflow/outflow means and back into said second tubular means, thereby providing enhanced removal of thrombus or other unwanted material off the surface of a body vessel or cavity, and macerating the thrombus or other unwanted material by action of said high velocity jet(s).

A system for treatment of thrombus or other unwanted material in a vessel or cavity of a living body comprising:

• a. an elongated device having a proximal end and a distal end;
• b. high pressure tubular means forming part of said elongated device for conveying pressurized fluid from said proximal end to said distal end;
• c. pressurized fluid connection means located at said proximal end of said high pressure tubular means;
• d. pressurized fluid source means connected to said pressurized fluid connection means;
• e. jet emanator means with at least one jet orifice for directing at least one high velocity fluid jet in the vicinity of said distal end of said elongated device, said jet emanator means being attached to and in fluid communication with said high pressure tubular means;
• f. second tubular means for conveying fluid, at least one of said jet orifices directing at least one high velocity fluid jet into said second tubular means;
• g. combination inflow/outflow means, with inflow portion and outflow portion, in said second tubular means, oriented so that at least one high velocity fluid jet entrains and draws surrounding blood or other fluid from a body vessel or cavity through said inflow portion of said combination inflow/outflow means and into said second tubular means, and creating a region of elevated pressure in said second tubular means;
• h. said outflow portion of said combination inflow/outflow means in said second tubular means located at said region of elevated pressure, said outflow portion thereby providing for passage of fluid out from said second tubular means into a body vessel or cavity, creating one or more cross stream jets which provide force (normal and/or drag forces) which help to break thrombus or other unwanted material off the surface of a body vessel or cavity;
• i. at least one high velocity jet(s) act to break apart thrombus or other unwanted material which has been entrained by said high velocity jet(s);
• and,
• j. said high velocity jet(s), said inflow portion of said combination inflow/outflow means, and said outflow portion of said combination inflow/outflow means create a recirculation pattern so that fluid flows from said outflow portion of said combination inflow/outflow means with radial flow vectors and circumferential and/or axial flow vectors to said inflow portion of said combination inflow/outflow means and back into said second tubular means, thereby providing enhanced removal of thrombus or other unwanted material off the surface of a body vessel or cavity, and macerating the thrombus or other unwanted material by action of said high velocity jet(s).