Abstract: Described herein are methods and apparatuses for characterizing a material at a distal end of an aspiration catheter using one or more sensors. The methods and apparatuses described herein may include a plurality of sensing electrodes at a distal end region of the apparatus, and a controller configured to sense contact and/or close proximity to the sensing electrodes. These methods and apparatuses may determine or detect vessel size. These methods and apparatuses may include distal contrast ports for applying contrast material distal to the aspiration catheter. In some examples these apparatuses include one or more reference electrodes near the sensing electrodes that may enhance detection of material (e.g., clot, blood vessel wall). These methods and apparatuses may include a steerable distal end region. In some cases the apparatuses and methods may include a retriever probe to assist in capturing clot material.

Abstract: Described here are methods and apparatuses for tracking a clot material within a lumen of a suction catheter. For example, an apparatus as described herein may include a flexible elongate body having a suction lumen, a first pair of electrodes within the suction lumen, a second pair of electrodes proximal to the first pair of electrodes, and a controller configured to track a clot material within the suction lumen based on signals from the first pair of electrodes and the second pair of electrodes.

Abstract: Methods for removing clot material by directional aspiration may include removing clot material from a side vessel while the suction catheter remains in the main vessel. These methods may include a steerable distal end region. In some cases the apparatuses and methods may include the use of a guide catheter and/or a guidewire in orienting the suction catheter to laterally capture clot material from a side vessel without having to enter the side vessel. Any of these methods may include optionally sensing and confirming clot material (e.g., electrically sensing).

Abstract: Described herein are methods and apparatuses for characterizing a material at a distal end of an aspiration catheter using one or more sensors. The methods and apparatuses described herein may include a plurality of sensing electrodes at a distal end region of the apparatus, and a controller configured to sense contact and/or close proximity to the sensing electrodes. These methods and apparatuses may determine or detect vessel size. These methods and apparatuses may include distal contrast ports for applying contrast material distal to the aspiration catheter. In some examples these apparatuses include one or more reference electrodes near the sensing electrodes that may enhance detection of material (e.g., clot, blood vessel wall). These methods and apparatuses may include a steerable distal end region. In some cases the apparatuses and methods may include a retriever probe to assist in capturing clot material.

Abstract: Methods for removing clot material by directional aspiration may include removing clot material from a side vessel while the suction catheter remains in the main vessel. These methods may include a steerable distal end region. In some cases the apparatuses and methods may include the use of a guide catheter and/or a guidewire in orienting the suction catheter to laterally capture clot material from a side vessel without having to enter the side vessel. Any of these methods may include optionally sensing and confirming clot material (e.g., electrically sensing).

Abstract: Blood circuit apparatuses having one or more pumps that are configured to provide a first, positive, pressure and a second, negative, pressure may couple to an aspiration catheter and are coupled to a blood return circuit including a blood return line are also connected to a controller that is configured to independently control the movement of the positive and negative pressure. These apparatuses may be used to remove clot material, filter the clot material, and return the filtered blood to the a chamber for immediate or later return to the patient.

Abstract: Methods for aspiration to remove thrombus/clot material using a system configured to remove, filter and return clot. These methods allow the removal of clot material using a fluidically-driven aspiration device when attached to an aspiration catheter and proximate to obstructive clot material. A fluidic actuator drives an aspirator, which may be automatically controlled to apply a vacuum in a pattern to enhance clot removal and collection from the body as well as improve blood return using the same closed system. The fluidic actuator may direct the aspirated blood through a filter and deaerator to allow the filtered blood to be returned to the patient.

Abstract: Clot material may be removed from a patient and separated from blood so that the blood may be collected using an efficient dual-stroke technique. The methods described herein withdraw clot and blood from a patient during a first stoke of a pump at a first rate, filter the blood to remove clot, and drive the filtered blood into a collection chamber at a second rate that is different from the first rate. The first rate may be optimized to disrupt and remove clot, while the second rate may be optimized to move the blood without damaging, e.g., lysing, the blood.

Abstract: Described here are methods and apparatuses for removing a clot material from a patient. For example, an apparatus as described herein may include a flexible elongate body having a suction lumen, a first pair of sensors (e.g., electrodes), and a controller configured to identify a clot material based on signals from the first pair of sensors.

Abstract: Described herein are methods and apparatuses for identifying a clot material in contact with a suction catheter. For example, an apparatus as described herein may include a flexible elongate body having a suction lumen, and an aspiration opening sensor comprising at least two electrodes, and a controller configured to distinguish between clot and blood based on an impedance signal between the two or more electrodes.

Abstract: Described herein are methods and apparatuses for characterizing a material at a distal end of an aspiration catheter using one or more sensors. The methods and apparatuses described herein may include a plurality of sensing electrodes at a distal end region of the apparatus, and a controller configured to sense contact and/or close proximity to the sensing electrodes. These methods and apparatuses may determine or detect vessel size. These methods and apparatuses may include distal contrast ports for applying contrast material distal to the aspiration catheter. In some examples these apparatuses include one or more reference electrodes near the sensing electrodes that may enhance detection of material (e.g., clot, blood vessel wall). These methods and apparatuses may include a steerable distal end region. In some cases the apparatuses and methods may include a retriever probe to assist in capturing clot material.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for distinguishing a blood clot from a vessel wall. These methods and apparatuses may include an aspiration opening into a suction lumen, an aspiration opening sensor(s) positioned at a rim of the aspiration opening, and a controller that interprets signals from the aspiration opening sensor(s) to determine when the aspiration opening is contacting a clot material or a vessel when a force is applied.

Abstract: Described here are methods and apparatuses for tracking a clot material within a lumen of a suction catheter. For example, an apparatus as described herein may include a flexible elongate body having a suction lumen, a first pair of electrodes within the suction lumen, a second pair of electrodes proximal to the first pair of electrodes, and a controller configured to track a clot material within the suction lumen based on signals from the first pair of electrodes and the second pair of electrodes.

Abstract: Described here are methods and apparatuses for tracking a clot material within a lumen of a suction catheter. For example, an apparatus as described herein may include a flexible elongate body having a suction lumen, a first pair of electrodes within the suction lumen, a second pair of electrodes proximal to the first pair of electrodes, and a controller configured to track a clot material within the suction lumen based on signals from the first pair of electrodes and the second pair of electrodes.

Abstract: Methods for removing clot material by directional aspiration may include removing clot material from a side vessel while the suction catheter remains in the main vessel. These methods may include a steerable distal end region. In some cases the apparatuses and methods may include the use of a guide catheter and/or a guidewire in orienting the suction catheter to laterally capture clot material from a side vessel without having to enter the side vessel. Any of these methods may include optionally sensing and confirming clot material (e.g., electrically sensing).

Abstract: Described here are methods and apparatuses for tracking a clot material within a lumen of a suction catheter. For example, an apparatus as described herein may include a flexible elongate body having a suction lumen, a first pair of electrodes within the suction lumen, a second pair of electrodes proximal to the first pair of electrodes, and a controller configured to track a clot material within the suction lumen based on signals from the first pair of electrodes and the second pair of electrodes.

Abstract: Described here are methods and apparatuses for tracking a clot material within a lumen of a suction catheter. For example, an apparatus as described herein may include a flexible elongate body having a suction lumen, a first pair of electrodes within the suction lumen, a second pair of electrodes proximal to the first pair of electrodes, and a controller configured to track a clot material within the suction lumen based on signals from the first pair of electrodes and the second pair of electrodes.

Abstract: Described here are methods and apparatuses for tracking a clot material within a lumen of a suction catheter. For example, an apparatus as described herein may include a flexible elongate body having a suction lumen, a first pair of electrodes within the suction lumen, a second pair of electrodes proximal to the first pair of electrodes, and a controller configured to track a clot material within the suction lumen based on signals from the first pair of electrodes and the second pair of electrodes.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for distinguishing a blood clot from a vessel wall. These methods and apparatuses may include an aspiration opening into a suction lumen, an aspiration opening sensor(s) positioned at a rim of the aspiration opening, and a controller that interprets signals from the aspiration opening sensor(s) to determine when the aspiration opening is contacting a clot material or a vessel when a force is applied.

Abstract: Described here are methods and apparatuses for tracking a clot material within a lumen of a suction catheter. For example, an apparatus as described herein may include a flexible elongate body having a suction lumen, a first pair of electrodes within the suction lumen, a second pair of electrodes proximal to the first pair of electrodes, and a controller configured to track a clot material within the suction lumen based on signals from the first pair of electrodes and the second pair of electrodes.