Intermediate suction catheter

1 . A catheter comprising:

a first end, a second end, and a lumen extending from the first end to the second end, wherein the catheter has a first portion arranged at the first end, a second portion arranged adjacent to the first portion, a third portion arranged adjacent to the second portion, and a fourth portion arranged at the second end and adjacent to the third portion, wherein the first portion of the catheter has a first cut pattern in an exterior surface of the catheter, wherein the second portion of the catheter has a second cut pattern in the exterior surface of the catheter that is different from the first cut pattern, wherein the third portion of the catheter has a third cut pattern in the exterior surface of the catheter that is different from the first cut pattern and the second cut pattern, wherein the fourth portion does not include a cut pattern, wherein the fourth portion includes a slot, and wherein an outer circumference of the fourth portion is uninterrupted but for the slot.

2 . The catheter of claim 1 , wherein the slot is about 0.018 inches long in a direction from the second end towards the first end and about 0.008 inches wide.

3 . The catheter of claim 1 , wherein a pitch of the first cut pattern is constant, wherein a pitch of the second cut pattern transitions along a length of the second portion, and wherein a pitch of the third cut pattern transitions along a length of the third portion.

4 . The catheter of claim 3 , wherein the pitch of the first cut pattern is about 0.004 inches along a length of the first portion, wherein the pitch of the second cut pattern transitions from about 0.004 inches to about 0.010 inches in a direction from the first end to the second end, and wherein the pitch of the third cut pattern transitions from about 0.010 inches to about 0.016 inches in a direction from the first end to the second end.

5 . The catheter of claim 1 , wherein a cuts per rotation (CPR) of the first cut pattern is different than a CPR of the second cut pattern and a CPR of the third cut pattern.

6 . The catheter of claim 5 , wherein the CPR of the first cut pattern is about 1.5, and wherein the CPR of the second cut pattern and the CPR of the third cut pattern is about 2.5.

7 . The catheter of claim 1 , wherein a length of the first portion of the catheter ranges from about 1 cm to about 5 cm, wherein a length of the second portion of the catheter ranges from about 10 cm to about 15 cm, and wherein a length of the third portion of the catheter ranges from about 7.5 cm to about 12.5 cm.

8 . The catheter of claim 1 , wherein the catheter has an inner diameter that is constant from the first end to the second end.

9 . The catheter of claim 8 , wherein the inner diameter is about 0.072 inches.

10 . The catheter of claim 1 , further comprising a polymer membrane surrounding at least a portion of the exterior surface of the catheter.

11 . The catheter of claim 10 , wherein the polymer membrane is about 0.00015 inches thick.

12 . The catheter of claim 1 , further comprising a lubricious coating on at least a portion of the exterior surface of the catheter.

13 . The catheter of claim 1 , wherein the catheter comprises a stainless steel material.

14 . The catheter of claim 1 , wherein a push wire is coupled to the fourth portion in the slot.

15 . The catheter of claim 14 , wherein the push wire is welded to the catheter.

16 . The catheter of claim 1 , wherein a maximum outer diameter of the fourth portion does not exceed a maximum outer diameter of the third portion.

17 . The catheter of claim 1 , wherein a maximum outer diameter of the catheter remains uniform along a length of the catheter from the first end to the second end.

18 . The catheter of claim 1 , further comprising a polymer membrane, wherein the polymer membrane is wrapped around at least a portion of the catheter.

19 . The catheter of claim 18 , wherein the polymer membrane comprises expanded polytetrafluoroethylene.

20 . A device comprising:

the catheter of claim 1 ; and

a push wire coupled to the second end of the catheter.

21 . A catheter system comprising:

a catheter according to claim 1 , wherein the catheter is a first catheter and the first catheter has a first diameter;

a second catheter having a first end and a second end, wherein the second catheter has a second diameter that is greater than the first diameter of the first catheter, and wherein the first catheter is positioned at least partially within a lumen of the second catheter and is moveable relative to the second catheter; and

a push wire having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the push wire is coupled to the second end of the first catheter.

22 . A method comprising:

introducing a guidewire into an arterial configuration via arterial access;

loading the catheter system according to claim 21 onto the guidewire;

moving the catheter system along the guidewire and introducing the second catheter into a first arterial configuration; and

advancing, via the push wire of the catheter system, the first catheter with respect to the second catheter to move the first catheter into a second arterial configuration.

23 . The method of claim 22 , further comprising:

inflating a balloon coupled to the first end of the second catheter.

24 . The method of claim 22 , further comprising:

advancing a treatment solution out of the first catheter and into the second arterial configuration.

25 . The method of claim 22 , further comprising:

advancing a stent retriever though a third catheter and into the second arterial configuration or a third arterial configuration.

26 . The method of claim 22 , further comprising:

advancing a coronary stent through the first catheter and into the second arterial configuration.

27 . The method of claim 22 , further comprising:

advancing a clot retrieval device through the first catheter for pulmonary and venous thrombectomy.