Aspiration medical device

1. An aspiration medical device, comprising:

a tubular member having a distal end region and defining an inflow orifice adjacent to the distal end region;

an aspiration member disposed within the tubular member, the aspiration member having a plurality of fluid jets formed therein;

wherein the aspiration medical device has a longitudinal axis and wherein the plurality of fluid jets and spaced apart along the longitudinal axis;

wherein the plurality of fluid jets are defined by openings formed in a wall of the aspiration member, the openings being oriented at an acute angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the aspiration member so as to infuse fluid within the tubular member in a proximal direction that is offset from the longitudinal axis of the aspiration member at an angle;

wherein the angle is greater than zero degrees and less than ninety degrees; and

wherein the plurality of fluid jets are configured as high-pressure fluid jets that infuse a high-pressure fluid within the tubular member and wherein the tubular member substantially prevents the high-pressure fluid from damaging tissue.

2. The aspiration medical device of claim 1 , wherein the tubular member has an outflow orifice disposed proximally of the inflow orifice.

3. The aspiration medical device of claim 1 , wherein the aspiration member has a closed distal end.

4. The aspiration medical device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fluid jets are axially aligned along the aspiration member.

5. The aspiration medical device of claim 1 , wherein at least some of the plurality of fluid jets are circumferentially offset from one another along the aspiration member.

6. The aspiration medical device of claim 1 , further comprising an outer sleeve disposed along the tubular member.

7. The aspiration medical device of claim 6 , wherein a fluid infusion lumen is defined between the outer sleeve and the tubular member.

8. The aspiration medical device of claim 1 , wherein the distal end region of the tubular member includes an open distal end.

9. The aspiration medical device of claim 1 , wherein the distal end region of the tubular member includes an angled distal end.

10. The aspiration medical device of claim 1 , wherein the distal end region of the tubular member includes a flared distal end.

11. The aspiration medical device of claim 1 , wherein the aspiration member has a width and a length greater than the width.

12. The aspiration medical device of claim 1 , wherein the aspiration member comprises an elongate tube offset from a central axis of the tubular member and positioned adjacent to a wall surface of the tubular member.

13. The aspiration medical device of claim 1 , wherein the aspiration member including a longitudinally-extending shaft portion and wherein the plurality of fluid jets are disposed along the longitudinally-extending shaft portion.

14. An aspiration catheter, comprising:

a catheter shaft defining a lumen;

an aspiration member disposed within the lumen, the aspiration member including a longitudinally-extending shaft portion and a plurality of fluid jet orifices disposed along the longitudinally-extending shaft portion;

wherein the plurality of fluid jet orifices includes a first fluid jet orifice and a second fluid jet orifice disposed distally of the first fluid jet orifice;

wherein the first fluid jet orifice is defined by an opening formed in a wall of the aspiration member, the opening being oriented proximally and at an acute angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the aspiration member; and

wherein the first fluid jet orifice and the second fluid jet orifice are configured as high-pressure fluid jet orifices that infuse a high-pressure fluid within the catheter shaft.

15. The aspiration catheter of claim 14 , wherein the catheter shaft has a distal end and an inflow orifice disposed proximally of the distal end.

16. The aspiration catheter of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of fluid jet orifices are designed to infuse fluid within the lumen in a proximal direction.

17. The aspiration catheter of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of fluid jet orifices are designed to proximally infuse fluid within the lumen in a direction that is offset from a longitudinal axis of the shaft at an acute angle.

18. The aspiration catheter of claim 14 , further comprising an outer sleeve disposed along the catheter shaft, wherein a fluid infusion lumen is defined between the outer sleeve and the catheter shaft.

19. A method for aspirating material from a blood vessel, the method comprising:

disposing an aspiration catheter adjacent to a stenosis, the aspiration catheter comprising:

a catheter shaft defining a lumen, and

an aspiration member disposed within the lumen, the aspiration member including a longitudinally-extending shaft portion and a plurality of fluid jet orifices disposed along the longitudinally-extending shaft portion;

wherein the plurality of fluid jet orifices includes a first fluid jet orifice and a second fluid jet orifice disposed distally of the first fluid jet orifice,

wherein the first fluid jet orifice and the second fluid jet orifice are configured as high-pressure fluid jet orifices that infuse a high-pressure fluid within the catheter shaft,

wherein the first fluid jet orifice is defined by an opening formed in a wall of the aspiration member, the opening being oriented proximally and at an acute angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the aspiration member; and

infusing fluid through the plurality of fluid jet orifices to aspirate the stenosis.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein infusing fluid through the plurality of fluid jet orifices to aspirate the stenosis includes infusing fluid within the lumen in a proximal direction.