SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PULMONARY EMBOLI REMOVAL

1 . A system for treating pulmonary emboli, comprising:

an aspiration catheter comprising an occluding component attached at or near a distal end of the aspiration catheter; and

a holding catheter comprising a valve accessory attached at or near a distal end of the holding catheter,

wherein the occluding component is configured to block normal blood flow through one or more pulmonary arterial vessels upon expansion.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the valve accessory comprises a stent-based device or a balloon.

3 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a suction device configured to provide suction to the one or more pulmonary arteries through the aspiration catheter to induce a reversal of blood flow through the aspiration catheter.

4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the suction device comprises an external pump.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the occluding component comprises a balloon.

6 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising an inline filter disposed within the aspiration catheter.

7 . A method of treating pulmonary embolism, the method comprising:

delivering a first catheter to a target pulmonary arterial vessel, wherein the first catheter comprises an occluding component disposed at or near a distal end;

deploying the occluding component; and

providing suction to the target pulmonary arterial vessel to induce a reversal of blood flow.

8 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising dislodging one or more pulmonary emboli.

9 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising removing one or more pulmonary emboli from the patient.

10 . The method of claim 7 , wherein providing suction to the target pulmonary arterial vessel comprises delivering an aspiration catheter, distinct from the first catheter, to the target pulmonary arterial vessel to provide suction.

11 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the step of providing suction to the target pulmonary arterial vessel comprises providing suction through the first catheter.

12 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the method treats acute pulmonary embolism.

13 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the occluding component comprises a selectively expandable balloon.

14 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

providing a holding catheter, wherein the holding catheter comprises a valve accessory at or near a distal end; and

deploying the valve accessory of the holding catheter at or near the mitral valve to increase mitral regurgitation.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein increasing mitral regurgitation further induces the reversal of blood flow.

16 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising flowing the reversed blood flow through a filter.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the filter is an inline filter disposed in the first catheter.

18 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising returning the reversed blood flow to the venous system of the patient.

19 . A method of treating pulmonary embolism, the method comprising:

delivering a first catheter to a target pulmonary arterial vessel, wherein the first catheter is an aspiration catheter, and wherein the first catheter comprises an occluding component disposed at or near a distal end;

deploying the occluding component within the target pulmonary arterial vessel;

providing a holding catheter, wherein the holding catheter comprises a valve accessory at or near a distal end;

deploying the valve accessory of the holding catheter at or near the mitral valve to increase mitral regurgitation; and

providing suction to the target pulmonary arterial vessel by way of the first catheter to induce a reversal of blood flow.

20 . (canceled)