Abstract: A thrombectomy catheter includes a catheter body having a catheter lumen. An outflow orifice is positioned along a catheter perimeter. A fluid jet emanator communicates with a high pressure tube. The fluid jet emanator includes at least one jet orifice for directing a fluid jet from the fluid jet emanator through the catheter lumen toward the outflow orifice. The fluid jet emanator provides a jet stream from the catheter body through the outflow orifice. The jet stream includes first and second stream portions. An entrainment fluid flow circuit includes at least the first stream portion, and the entrainment fluid flow circuit entrains particulate and macerates the particulate therein. An exhaust fluid flow path includes the second stream portion, and the exhaust fluid flow path draws entrained particulate from the entrainment fluid flow circuit at a location exterior to the catheter body and directs it toward the catheter proximal portion.

Abstract: A thrombectomy catheter includes a catheter body having a catheter lumen. An outflow orifice is positioned along a catheter perimeter. A fluid jet emanator communicates with a high pressure tube. The fluid jet emanator includes at least one jet orifice for directing a fluid jet from the fluid jet emanator through the catheter lumen toward the outflow orifice. The fluid jet emanator provides a jet stream from the catheter body through the outflow orifice. The jet stream includes first and second stream portions. An entrainment fluid flow circuit includes at least the first stream portion, and the entrainment fluid flow circuit entrains particulate and macerates the particulate therein. An exhaust fluid flow path includes the second stream portion, and the exhaust fluid flow path draws entrained particulate from the entrainment fluid flow circuit at a location exterior to the catheter body and directs it toward the catheter proximal portion.

Abstract: A thrombectomy catheter includes a catheter body having a catheter lumen. An outflow orifice is positioned along a catheter perimeter. A fluid jet emanator communicates with a high pressure tube. The fluid jet emanator includes at least one jet orifice for directing a fluid jet from the fluid jet emanator through the catheter lumen toward the outflow orifice. The fluid jet emanator provides a jet stream from the catheter body through the outflow orifice. The jet stream includes first and second stream portions. An entrainment fluid flow circuit includes at least the first stream portion, and the entrainment fluid flow circuit entrains particulate and macerates the particulate therein. An exhaust fluid flow path includes the second stream portion, and the exhaust fluid flow path draws entrained particulate from the entrainment fluid flow circuit at a location exterior to the catheter body and directs it toward the catheter proximal portion.

Abstract: A thrombectomy catheter includes a catheter body having a catheter lumen. An outflow orifice is positioned along a catheter perimeter. A fluid jet emanator communicates with a high pressure tube. The fluid jet emanator includes at least one jet orifice for directing a fluid jet from the fluid jet emanator through the catheter lumen toward the outflow orifice. The fluid jet emanator provides a jet stream from the catheter body through the outflow orifice. The jet stream includes first and second stream portions. An entrainment fluid flow circuit includes at least the first stream portion, and the entrainment fluid flow circuit entrains particulate and macerates the particulate therein. An exhaust fluid flow path includes the second stream portion, and the exhaust fluid flow path draws entrained particulate from the entrainment fluid flow circuit at a location exterior to the catheter body and directs it toward the catheter proximal portion.

Abstract: A thrombectomy catheter includes a catheter body having a catheter lumen. An outflow orifice is positioned along a catheter perimeter. A fluid jet emanator communicates with a high pressure tube. The fluid jet emanator includes at least one jet orifice for directing a fluid jet from the fluid jet emanator through the catheter lumen toward the outflow orifice. The fluid jet emanator provides a jet stream from the catheter body through the outflow orifice. The jet stream includes first and second stream portions. An entrainment fluid flow circuit includes at least the first stream portion, and the entrainment fluid flow circuit entrains particulate and macerates the particulate therein. An exhaust fluid flow path includes the second stream portion, and the exhaust fluid flow path draws entrained particulate from the entrainment fluid flow circuit at a location exterior to the catheter body and directs it toward the catheter proximal portion.

Abstract: Thrombectomy catheters having at least one outflow orifice and one or more inflow orifices, systems including the thrombectomy catheters, and methods of using the thrombectomy catheters are described herein. The thrombectomy catheters described herein may include one or more of the protective features that may limit potential hazards to vessel walls in which the thrombectomy catheters are used.

Abstract: A thrombectomy catheter includes a catheter body having a catheter lumen. An outflow orifice is positioned along a catheter perimeter. A fluid jet emanator communicates with a high pressure tube. The fluid jet emanator includes at least one jet orifice for directing a fluid jet from the fluid jet emanator through the catheter lumen toward the outflow orifice. The fluid jet emanator provides a jet stream from the catheter body through the outflow orifice. The jet stream includes first and second stream portions. An entrainment fluid flow circuit includes at least the first stream portion, and the entrainment fluid flow circuit entrains particulate and macerates the particulate therein. An exhaust fluid flow path includes the second stream portion, and the exhaust fluid flow path draws entrained particulate from the entrainment fluid flow circuit at a location exterior to the catheter body and directs it toward the catheter proximal portion.

Abstract: Catheters including guidewire tubes having a limited length and methods of using the catheters are described. The catheters may be delivered over guidewires in procedures that are commonly referred to as rapid-exchange delivery. In some embodiments, the catheters may be miniature flexible thrombectomy catheters that may be used to remove thrombus or other unwanted material from a body blood vessel or other small regions of body cavities in which the distal portion of the catheter has smaller external dimensions than the larger proximal portion.

Abstract: An enhanced cross stream mechanical thrombectomy catheter having a distal end with outflow and inflow orifices at one side for producing concentrated cross stream jet flow for selective and concentrated thrombus ablation during thrombectomy procedures. A multidirectional fluid jet emanator positioned within the distal catheter lumen comprises high velocity fluid jets which produce jet flow that is directed toward distal and proximal ends of the catheter. Jet flow directed toward the proximal end provides a region of low pressure near an inflow orifice which acts to pull thrombotic particulate from the vasculature. The invention provides for suitable distancing of high powered ablation or suction forces from the near walls of the vasculature. Cross stream flow emanating from one side of the catheter distal end urges the opposing non-orificed side of the catheter distal end toward and against the vascular wall to inhibit contact of the inflow orifice with the vascular wall.

Abstract: Catheters including guidewire tubes having a limited length and methods of using the catheters are described. The catheters may be delivered over guidewires in procedures that are commonly referred to as rapid-exchange delivery. In some embodiments, the catheters may be miniature flexible thrombectomy catheters that may be used to remove thrombus or other unwanted material from a body blood vessel or other small regions of body cavities in which the distal portion of the catheter has smaller external dimensions than the larger proximal portion.

Abstract: An enhanced cross stream mechanical thrombectomy catheter with backloading manifold having a distal end with outflow and inflow orifices at one side for producing concentrated cross stream jet flow for selective and concentrated thrombus ablation during thrombectomy procedures. The invention provides for suitable distancing of high powered ablation or suction forces from the near walls of the vasculature. Cross stream flow emanating from the one side of the distal end of the catheter resultantly urges the distal end of the catheter and thus the opposing non-orif iced side of the distal end of the catheter toward and against the vascular wall to inhibit contact of the inflow orifice with the vascular wall. Features of the invention include a geometrically configured insert to facilitate the backloading or exchange of guidewires.

Abstract: An enhanced cross stream mechanical thrombectomy catheter with backloading manifold having a distal end with outflow and inflow orifices at one side for producing concentrated cross stream jet flow for selective and concentrated thrombus ablation during thrombectomy procedures. The invention provides for suitable distancing of high powered ablation or suction forces from the near walls of the vasculature. Cross stream flow emanating from the one side of the distal end of the catheter resultantly urges the distal end of the catheter and thus the opposing non-orificed side of the distal end of the catheter toward and against the vascular wall to inhibit contact of the inflow orifice with the vascular wall. Features of the invention include a geometrically configured insert to facilitate the backloading or exchange of guidewires.

Abstract: Catheters including guidewire tubes having a limited length and methods of using the catheters are described. The catheters may be delivered over guidewires in procedures that are commonly referred to as rapid-exchange delivery.

Abstract: A dual lumen aspiration catheter system with an aspiration catheter, a hub and a flexible strain relief, and a suction assembly. The aspiration catheter includes multiple successively connected flexible tubular components each increasing in relative flexibility in the distal direction, the most proximal tubular component connectingly extending from the hub and through the flexible strain relief. The tubular components of the aspiration catheter include, in order proximally to distally, a composite tube, an intermediate tube, a dual lumen tube, and a flexible tip tube. The dual lumen tube includes eccentrically co-located large and small tubular portions forming eccentrically co-located large and small lumens to provide a minimum cross section. The distal end of the dual lumen tube includes a convex beveled edge. The convex beveled edge and the flexible tip tube singly or jointly inflict minimal traumatic contact with a vessel wall when urged along a tortuous vascular path.

Abstract: An enhanced cross stream mechanical thrombectomy catheter with backloading manifold having a distal end with outflow and inflow orifices at one side for producing concentrated cross stream jet flow for selective and concentrated thrombus ablation during thrombectomy procedures. The invention provides for suitable distancing of high powered ablation or suction forces from the near walls of the vasculature. Cross stream flow emanating from the one side of the distal end of the catheter resultantly urges the distal end of the catheter and thus the opposing non-orificed side of the distal end of the catheter toward and against the vascular wall to inhibit contact of the inflow orifice with the vascular wall. Features of the invention include a geometrically configured insert to facilitate the backloading or exchange of guidewires.

Abstract: A rapid exchange fluid jet thrombectomy device having a streamlined manifold and a catheter having multiple tubular segments where each tubular segment increases in flexibility in a distal direction. Torque response and pushability is enhanced by the arrangement of a proximally located tubular segment composed of a polymer-jacketed spiral metal tube in combination with an intermediate tubular section and a distal tubular section each having different degrees of flexibility. A guidewire tube exit region is provided where the intermediate tubular section joins the distal tubular section for over-the-wire guidewire usage. The polymer-jacketed spiral metal tube can extend along a partial or full length of the catheter and can include a basic continuous spiral cut which has regions of constant pitch or which has progressively increasing pitch, or in the alternative, can include an interlocking spiral cut having constant pitch regions or progressively decreasing pitch.

Abstract: An implantable medical lead and lead body, method of manufacturing the same, and a system and method for stimulating a portion of a body is disclosed. In one advantageous embodiment, a lead body assembly is formed by preparing a first layer unitary body comprising a first plurality of conductors. An inner layer of extrusion material is placed on the first layer unitary body. A second plurality of conductors coated with extrusion material is placed on the inner layer. An outer layer of extrusion material is placed over the second plurality of conductors. Heat shrink tubing is placed over the assembly and the assembly is heated to melt the extrusion material. The extrusion material is compressed around the conductors. The assembly is cooled and the heat shrink tubing is removed. The solidified extrusion material forms a protective wall that encapsulates the first and second plurality of conductors in the lead body.

Abstract: An implantable lead and lead body, method of manufacturing the same, and a system and method for stimulating a portion of a body is disclosed. In one advantageous embodiment, a lead body assembly is formed by placing an inner layer of extrusion material on a mandrel, wrapping a plurality of conductors coated with extrusion material around the inner layer, and placing an outer layer of extrusion material over the plurality of conductors. Heat shrink tubing is placed over the lead body assembly and the lead body assembly is heated to melt the extrusion material. The melted extrusion material is compressed around the plurality of conductors. The assembly is then cooled and the heat shrink tubing is removed. The solidified extrusion material forms a protective wall that encapsulates the plurality of conductors in the lead body.

Abstract: An implantable medical lead and lead body, method of manufacturing the same, and a system and method for stimulating a portion of a body are disclosed. A lead body assembly is formed by preparing a first layer unitary body comprising a first plurality of conductors wound in a first direction. An inner layer of extrusion material is placed on the first layer unitary body. A second plurality of conductors coated with extrusion material is placed on the inner layer. The second plurality of conductors is wound in a second opposite direction. An outer layer of extrusion material is placed over the second plurality of conductors. Heat shrink tubing is placed over the assembly. The extrusion material is heated and melted and compressed around the conductors. When the heat shrink tubing is removed, the solidified extrusion material forms a protective wall that encapsulates the conductors in the lead body.