Abstract: Cross stream thrombectomy catheter and system for fragmentation and removal of thrombus or other material from blood vessels or other body cavities. High velocity saline jets emitted from a toroidal loop jet emanator or other jet emanator in a catheter distal end entrain fluid through inflow orifices, and with flow resistances create a back-pressure which drives cross stream streams through outflow orifices in a radial direction and thence radially and circumferentially to apply normal and drag forces on thrombotic deposits or lesions in the blood vessel or other body cavity, thereby breaking apart and transporting thrombus particles to be entrained through the inflow orifices, whereupon the high velocity jets macerate the thrombus particles which then transit an exhaust lumen or recirculate again via the outflow orifices.

Abstract: A single operator exchange fluid jet thrombectomy device having an outer catheter assembly and separable and exchangeable components in the form of an inner catheter assembly allowing functioning as a rheolytic thrombectomy catheter or as a crossflow thrombectomy catheter. Embodiments include an outer catheter assembly common to any mode of usage having a guide catheter having a lumen through which a guidewire and the greater portion of a hypo-tube carrying a flow director are passed and advanced. For use as a rheolytic thrombectomy catheter, thrombus is dislodged, entrained, and broken into pieces by jets and evacuated through the lumen of the guide catheter. For use as a crossflow thrombectomy catheter, a flow director having outflow and inflow orifices is provided.

Abstract: Cross stream thrombectomy catheter and system for fragmentation and removal of thrombus or other material from blood vessels or other body cavities. High velocity saline jets emitted from a toroidal loop jet emanator or other jet emanator in a catheter distal end entrain fluid through inflow orifices, and with flow resistances create a back-pressure which drives cross stream streams through outflow orifices in a radial direction and thence radially and circumferentially to apply normal and drag forces on thrombotic deposits or lesions in the blood vessel or other body cavity, thereby breaking apart and transporting thrombus particles to be entrained through the inflow orifices, whereupon the high velocity jets macerate the thrombus particles which then transit an exhaust lumen or recirculate again via the outflow orifices.

Abstract: A single operator exchange fluid jet thrombectomy method employing a single operator exchange fluid jet thrombectomy device having an outer catheter assembly and separable and exchangeable components in the form of an inner catheter assembly allowing functioning as a rheolytic thrombectomy catheter or as a crossflow thrombectomy catheter. The outer catheter assembly is common to any mode of usage and includes a guide catheter having a lumen through which a guidewire and the greater portion of a hypo-tube carrying a jet emanator and a flow director are passed and advanced. In the method, thrombus is dislodged, entrained, and broken into pieces by fluid jets and evacuated through the lumen of the guide catheter.

Abstract: Cross stream thrombectomy catheter and system for fragmentation and removal of thrombus or other material from blood vessels or other body cavities. High velocity saline jets emitted from a toroidal loop jet emanator or other jet emanator in a catheter distal end entrain fluid through inflow orifices, and with flow resistances create a back-pressure which drives cross stream streams through outflow orifices in a radial direction and thence radially and circumferentially to apply normal and drag forces on thrombotic deposits or lesions in the blood vessel or other body cavity, thereby breaking apart and transporting thrombus particles to be entrained through the inflow orifices, whereupon the high velocity jets macerate the thrombus particles which then transit an exhaust lumen or recirculate again via the outflow orifices.

Abstract: A gas inflation/evacuation system for use with occlusive devices in vascular procedures. The gas inflation/evacuation system is removably connectable to a proximal portion of a guidewire assembly and includes a first syringe system to evacuate air from the guidewire and a second syringe system for introducing a biocompatible gas under pressure into the guidewire to inflate an occlusive balloon a plurality of times. A sealing system is also removably connectable to the proximal portion of the guidewire assembly and selectively seals the proximal portion at one of a plurality of separate locations to form an airtight seal of the guidewire. Each time a deflation of the occlusive device is desired to reestablish blood flow to the vessel downstream of the occlusive device, the proximal portion of the guidewire preferably is cut distal to the location of the last seal to quickly deflate the occlusive device.

Abstract: A guidewire occlusion system for use in vascular procedures includes a repeatably inflatable gas-filled occlusive device proximate a distal end of a tubular guidewire assembly having an extended sealable section proximate a proximal end. A gas inflation/evacuation system is removably connectable to the proximal end of the guidewire assembly and includes an evacuation system to evacuate air from the guidewire and an inflation system for introducing a gas under pressure into the guidewire to inflate the occlusive balloon a plurality of times. A sealing system is also removably connectable to the proximal end of the guidewire assembly and selectively seals the extended sealable section at one of a plurality of separate locations along the extended sealable section to form an airtight seal of the tubular guidewire.

Abstract: A tubular guidewire assembly having an occlusive device and an extended crimpable section proximate a proximal end that is adapted to connect to a gas inflation/evacuation system. The extended crimpable section can be selectively sealed at one of a plurality of separate locations to form an airtight seal of the tubular guidewire assembly. Each time a deflation of the occlusive device is desired to reestablish blood flow to a vessel downstream of the occlusive device, the extended crimpable section preferably is cut distal to the location of the last seal to quickly deflate the occlusive device.

Abstract: Crossflow thrombectomy catheter and system for fragmentation and removal of thrombus or other material from blood vessels or other body cavities. High velocity saline jets emitted from a toroidal loop jet emanator or other jet emanator in a catheter distal end entrain fluid through inflow orifices, and with flow resistances create a back-pressure which drives crossflow streams through outflow orifices in a radial direction and thence radially and circumferentially to apply normal and drag forces on thrombotic deposits or lesions in the blood vessel or other body cavity, thereby breaking apart and transporting thrombus particles to be entrained through the inflow orifices, whereupon the high velocity jets macerate the thrombus particles which then transit an exhaust lumen or recirculate again via the outflow orifices.

Abstract: Crossflow thrombectomy catheter and system for fragmentation and removal of thrombus or other material from blood vessels or other body cavities. High velocity saline jets emitted from a toroidal loop jet emanator or other jet emanator in a catheter distal end entrain fluid through inflow orifices, and with flow resistances create a back-pressure which drives crossflow streams through outflow orifices in a radial direction and thence radially and circumferentially to apply normal and drag forces on thrombotic deposits or lesions in the blood vessel or other body cavity, thereby breaking apart and transporting thrombus particles to be entrained through the inflow orifices, whereupon the high velocity jets macerate the thrombus particles which then transit an exhaust lumen or recirculate again via the outflow orifices.

Abstract: A rheolytic thrombectomy catheter and method of using same to remove thrombus from a body vessel or other body cavity. Several embodiments are disclosed. All embodiments include an outer catheter having a lumen and an inner high pressure tube of a size to enable it to be passed through the lumen of the catheter. The distal end of the inner high pressure tube extends beyond the distal end of the catheter and carries a jet cap for directing one or more jets of saline proximally toward the distal end of the catheter. In some embodiments, the catheter has a distally located inwardly directed stationary stop and the inner high pressure tube includes a distally located outwardly directed transitional stop for engaging the inwardly directed stationary stop to thereby position the jet cap at a defined distance from the distal end of the catheter.

Abstract: A rheolytic thrombectomy catheter and method of using same to remove thrombus from a body vessel or other body cavity. The rheolytic thrombectomy catheter has a first tube with a distal open end and a second tube aligned within the first tube and having a flexible tip assembly. A tapered and flexible tip follows a guidewire within and along tortuous and difficult vasculature paths to the site of thrombus. The flexible tip assembly, includes a soft flexible tip and also includes a hard plastic shell offering structural integrity and rigid alignment between a toroidal loop and an inner body to prevent lever arm distortion and to maintain spray gap alignment for saline jet flow emanating from the toroidal loop. Saline jets dislodge, entrain, and break thrombus into pieces which are evacuated through the dual lumen tube.

Abstract: An aeration device disperses microbubbles into a liquid and maintains efficient transfer of gas to the liquid. The aeration device uses a number of sealed end, hollow fiber membranes that are hydrophobic and provided with pores in the walls of the tubular fibers that range from about 0.01 to 1.0 microns, so that very small bubbles are formed on the outside surface of the hollow fiber membranes. Gas pressures above the bubble point of the fiber membranes are used, and a cloud of microbubbles is expelled into the liquid as it is forced to flow past the fibers. These microbubbles provide a large surface area for the effective dissolution of gases into the liquid. The length of the hollow fiber membranes is controlled in order to obtain efficient small bubble formation.