System for treating embolism and associated devices and methods
Systems and methods for the intravascular treatment of clot material within a blood vessel of a human patient are disclosed herein. A method in accordance with embodiments of the present technology can include, for example, positioning a distal portion of a catheter proximate to the clot material within the blood vessel. The method can further include coupling a pressure source to the catheter via a tubing subsystem including a valve or other fluid control device and, while the valve is closed, activating the pressure source to charge a vacuum. The valve can then be opened to apply the vacuum to the catheter to thereby aspirate at least a portion of the clot material from the blood vessel and into the catheter.
1. A method for the treatment of clot material within a vasculature of a patient, the method comprising:
positioning an aspiration catheter at least partially within the vasculature proximate to the clot material;
fluidly coupling a first chamber to an aspiration pump;
fluidly coupling the first chamber to a second chamber distal of the first chamber;
positioning a filter within the second chamber;
selectively fluidly coupling the aspiration catheter to the second chamber via a user-actuatable valve positioned between the second chamber and the aspiration catheter;
with the valve closed to inhibit fluid flow from the aspiration catheter to the second chamber, generating negative pressure in the first and second chambers;
after generating the negative pressure, opening the valve via a user actuation such that fluid flow at least partially from the second chamber into the first chamber causes rapid aspiration of blood and at least a portion of the clot material into the second chamber, wherein the filter is configured to filter the blood from the portion of the clot material; and
reintroducing the filtered blood into the vasculature of the patient.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein reintroducing the filtered blood into the patient includes directing the filtered blood distally through the aspiration catheter.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the clot material comprises a pulmonary embolism.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the clot material comprises a deep vein thrombus.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the method further comprises selectively providing fluid access to a lumen of the aspiration catheter via a hemostasis valve fluidly coupled to the lumen of the aspiration catheter.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein the second chamber, the aspiration catheter, and the hemostasis valve form a coupled assembly.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein the second chamber is removably carried by the coupled assembly.
8. The method of claim 5 wherein the method further comprises advancing a second catheter at least partially through the hemostasis valve and the lumen of the aspiration catheter.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein advancing the second catheter at least partially through the hemostasis valve includes sliding the second catheter through a lumen of a tubular member of the hemostasis valve, wherein the hemostasis valve further comprises a filament extending at least partially around the tubular member, and wherein the filament is moveable between (a) a first position wherein the filament circumferentially constricts the lumen to create a seal around the second catheter and (b) a second position wherein the filament is moved to at least partially open the lumen.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein the second chamber is removably coupled between the aspiration pump and the aspiration catheter.
11. The method of claim 1 wherein the first chamber has a first volume, and wherein the second chamber has a second volume smaller than the first volume.
12. The method of claim 1 wherein reintroducing the filtered blood into the patient includes directing the filtered blood distally through a catheter separate from the aspiration catheter.
13. The method of claim 1 wherein the method further comprises
removing the filter from within the second chamber; and
clearing the portion of the clot material from within the second chamber.
14. The method of claim 1 wherein positioning the aspiration catheter at least partially within the vasculature proximate to the clot material includes positioning a distal end portion of the aspiration catheter proximal to the clot material.
15. The method of claim 1 wherein the clot material comprises a pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis.