Apparatus and methods for making coated liners and tubular devices including such liners

1. An apparatus for aspiration of material from within the body lumen, comprising:

a tubular device comprising a proximal end, a distal end sized for introduction into the body lumen, and an aspiration lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends, the tubular device comprising an inner liner defining the aspiration lumen, the inner liner comprising a coating on an inner surface thereof, the coating having properties selected to at least one of decrease resistance to flow of material aspirated through the tubular device and decrease the propensity of aspirated material to clog the aspiration lumen;

at least one passive macerating element positioned within the aspiration lumen; and

an aspiration source connectable to the tubular device such that the aspiration source communicates with the aspiration lumen to remove material from a body lumen within which the tubular device is introduced, the at least one passive macerating element adapted to passively cut or separate material as it is drawn into the aspiration lumen during aspiration by the aspiration source.

2. The tubular device of claim 1 , wherein the distal end is sized for introduction into one of a coronary artery and an artery within the neurovasculature.

3. The tubular device of claim 1 , wherein the coating comprises a fibrinolytic coating.

4. The tubular device of claim 1 , wherein the coating comprises a hydrophilic coating.

5. The tubular device of claim 1 , wherein the aspiration source comprises a vacuum source.

6. The tubular device of claim 5 , wherein the vacuum source comprises at least one of a syringe, a vacuum pump, a vacuum bottle, and wall suction.

7. The tubular device of claim 5 , wherein the vacuum source is intermittent or oscillatory.

8. The tubular device of claim 1 , wherein the passive macerating element comprises one of a wire and a blade.

9. The tubular device of claim 1 , further comprising an aspiration mechanism for removing at least one of embolic material, thrombus and plaque from the body lumen.

10. The tubular device of claim 1 , wherein the aspiration lumen comprises a relatively smaller distal region and a relatively larger proximal region.

11. The tubular device of claim 1 , further comprising a transport element carried by the tubular device for mechanically removing material from the body lumen within which the tubular device is introduced.

12. The tubular device of claim 11 , wherein the transport element comprises an impeller.

13. An apparatus for aspiration of material from within a body lumen, comprising:

a tubular device comprising a proximal end, a distal end sized for introduction into the body lumen, and an aspiration lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends, the tubular device comprising an inner liner defining the aspiration lumen, a coating on an inner surface of the inner liner, and an outer tubular layer surrounding the inner liner, the coating comprising a fibrinolytic coating to decrease the propensity of aspirated material to clog the aspiration lumen;

an aspiration source connectable to the tubular device such that the aspiration source communicates with the aspiration lumen to remove material from a body lumen within which the tubular device is introduced; and

a passive macerating element mounted across the aspiration lumen to cut or separate material drawn into the aspiration lumen.

14. The tubular device of claim 13 , wherein the coating further comprises a hydrophilic coating.

15. The tubular device of claim 13 , wherein the macerating element comprises one or more wires or blades.

16. The tubular device of claim 13 , further comprising a transport element within the aspiration lumen for mechanically removing material from the body lumen within which the tubular device is introduced.

17. The tubular device of claim 13 , further comprising a reinforcing layer between the inner liner and the tubular layer.

18. A method for aspirating material within a body lumen, comprising:

providing a tubular device comprising an aspiration lumen extending between proximal and distal ends thereof, the tubular device comprising an inner liner defining the aspiration lumen, a coating on an inner surface of the inner liner, at least one passive macerating element within the aspiration lumen, and an outer tubular layer surrounding the inner liner, the coating having properties selected to at least one of decrease resistance to flow of material aspirated through the tubular device and decrease the propensity of aspirated material to clog the aspiration lumen;

introducing the distal end of the tubular device into the body lumen; and

coupling an aspiration source to the tubular device to aspirate material from the body lumen via the aspiration lumen, the at least one passive macerating element passively cutting or separating material as it is aspirated into the aspiration lumen.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the tubular device further comprises a transport element within the aspiration lumen for mechanically removing material from the body lumen.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the at least one passive macerating element within the aspiration lumen comprises a wire or blade that cuts or separates material aspirated into the aspiration lumen.

21. The method of claim 18 , wherein the body lumen comprises an artery within the neurovasculature.

22. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the aspiration lumen comprises a relatively smaller distal region extending proximally from the distal tip and a relatively larger proximal region to maximize the diameter of the aspiration lumen and thereby at least one of decrease resistance to flow of aspirated material through the aspiration lumen and decrease the propensity of aspirated material to clog the aspiration lumen.

23. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one passive macerating element is mounted across the aspiration lumen adjacent the distal end.