SUCTION CATHETER WITH DISTAL SUCTION MODULATION
A cleaning catheter includes tubular main body, shaped so as to define a distal-most suction orifice; and a suction lumen arranged along the main body in intermittent fluid communication with a suction source. A distal portion of the suction lumen is in fluid communication with the distal-most suction orifice. An outer wall of the main body is shaped so as to define an opening extending through the outer wall into the suction lumen at an axial location proximal to the distal-most suction orifice. An inflatable element is mounted to the main body along the opening. A collapsible membrane is positioned along the opening within an interior of the inflatable element, so as to define an inflatable chamber between a wall of inflatable element and the collapsible membrane. The collapsible membrane is positioned to at least partially occlude the suction lumen upon at least partial inflation of the inflatable chamber.
1 .- 82 . (canceled)
83 . Apparatus for use with a suction source, the apparatus comprising a cleaning catheter, which comprises:
an elongate, flexible, tubular main body, which is shaped so as to define a distal-most suction orifice;
a suction lumen arranged along the main body at least partially within the main body in intermittent fluid communication with the suction source, wherein a distal portion of the suction lumen is in fluid communication with the distal-most suction orifice, and wherein an outer wall of the main body is shaped so as to define an opening extending through the outer wall of the main body into the suction lumen at an axial location proximal to the distal-most suction orifice;
an inflatable element, which is mounted to the main body at least partially along the opening; and
a collapsible membrane, which is at least partially positioned along the opening within an interior of the inflatable element, so as to define an inflatable chamber between a wall of inflatable element and the collapsible membrane,
wherein the collapsible membrane is positioned to at least partially occlude the suction lumen upon at least partial inflation of the inflatable chamber, thereby modulating a level of suction delivered to the distal-most suction orifice via the suction lumen.
84 . The apparatus according to claim 83 , wherein a distal tip of the main body is shaped so as to define the distal-most suction orifice.
85 . The apparatus according to claim 83 , wherein a lateral wall of the main body is shaped so as to define the distal-most suction orifice.
86 . The apparatus according to claim 83 , wherein the expandable element is mounted to the main body at a location within 5 cm of a distal end of the main body.
87 . The apparatus according to claim 83 , wherein the collapsible membrane is configured such that upon sufficient inflation of the inflatable chamber, the collapsible membrane penetrates into the suction lumen sufficiently to cross a central longitudinal axis of the suction lumen.
88 . The apparatus according to claim 83 , wherein the inflatable element has a greatest diameter of between 6 and 12 mm when fully inflated and unconstrained.
89 . The apparatus according to claim 83 , wherein the suction lumen comprises exactly one suction lumen.
90 . The apparatus according to claim 83 , wherein the suction lumen comprises a plurality of suction lumens.
91 . The apparatus according claim 83 , wherein the main body is shaped so as to further define one or more lateral suction orifices at one or more respective locations along the main body proximal to the inflatable element.
92 . The apparatus according to claim 83 , wherein the cleaning catheter further comprises one or more fluid-delivery lumens arranged along the main body, and which are in fluid communication with the inflatable chamber.
93 . The apparatus according claim 83 , further comprising a pliable sleeve around at least a portion of the main body to inhibit contamination.
94 .- 152 . (canceled)