THROMBECTOMY CATHETER SYSTEM

1 - 20 . (canceled)

21 . A thrombectomy device, comprising:

a catheter body having a proximal end region, a distal end region and an aspiration lumen extending within at least a portion of the catheter body, the aspiration lumen extending along a longitudinal axis; and

an infusion lumen and an infusion orifice disposed within the catheter body, wherein the infusion orifice extends from the infusion lumen into the aspiration lumen at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis, and is configured to infuse fluid from the infusion lumen into the aspiration lumen at an angle that is offset relative to the longitudinal axis.

22 . The thrombectomy device of claim 21 , wherein the distal end region of the catheter body includes an outer surface extending around the longitudinal axis, and wherein the outer surface is free of openings.

23 . The thrombectomy device of claim 21 , wherein the distal end region of the catheter body includes an aspiration orifice in fluid communication with the aspiration lumen, and wherein the aspiration orifice is positioned distal to the infusion orifice.

24 . The thrombectomy device of claim 23 , wherein the aspiration orifice is positioned substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

25 . The thrombectomy device of claim 21 , wherein the infusion orifice is positioned substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

26 . The thrombectomy device of claim 21 , wherein the aspiration lumen has a cross-sectional area and wherein the infusion lumen has a cross-sectional area, and wherein the cross-sectional area of the aspiration lumen is larger than the cross-sectional area of the infusion lumen.

27 . The thrombectomy catheter of claim 21 , wherein the aspiration lumen is configured to receive thrombus therein, and wherein the fluid infused through the infusion orifice is configured to break apart the thrombus within the aspiration lumen.

28 . The thrombectomy catheter of claim 27 , wherein the fluid infused through the infusion orifice carries the broken apart thrombus through the aspiration lumen to the proximal end region of the catheter body.

29 . A thrombectomy device, comprising:

a catheter body having a proximal end region, a distal end region and an aspiration lumen extending within at least a portion of the catheter body, the aspiration lumen extending along a longitudinal axis;

an infusion lumen disposed within the catheter body, the infusion lumen extending along the longitudinal axis; and

a fluid jet orifice positioned inside the aspiration lumen and extending between the aspiration lumen and the infusion lumen;

a fluid jet pathway extending from the infusion lumen, through the fluid jet orifice and into the aspiration lumen, wherein the fluid jet pathway is configured to direct a fluid jet from the infusion lumen to the aspiration lumen at an angle that is offset relative to the longitudinal axis.

30 . The thrombectomy catheter of claim 29 , wherein the fluid jet orifice extends from the infusion lumen into the aspiration lumen at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis.

31 . The thrombectomy device of claim 30 , wherein the distal end region of the catheter body includes an outer surface extending around the longitudinal axis, and wherein the outer surface is free of openings.

32 . The thrombectomy device of claim 30 , wherein the distal end region of the catheter body includes an aspiration orifice in fluid communication with the aspiration lumen, and wherein the aspiration orifice is positioned distal to the fluid jet orifice.

33 . The thrombectomy device of claim 32 , wherein the aspiration orifice is positioned substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

34 . The thrombectomy device of claim 30 , wherein the fluid jet orifice is configured to direct that fluid jet stream substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

35 . The thrombectomy device of claim 30 , wherein the aspiration lumen has a cross-sectional area and wherein the infusion lumen has a cross-sectional area, and wherein the cross-sectional area of the aspiration lumen is larger than the cross-sectional area of the infusion lumen.

36 . The thrombectomy catheter of claim 30 , wherein the aspiration lumen is configured to receive thrombus therein, and wherein the fluid jet directed through the fluid jet orifice is configured to break apart the thrombus within the aspiration lumen.

37 . carries the broken apart thrombus through the aspiration lumen to the proximal end region of the catheter body.

38 . A method for removing thrombus from a body lumen, the method comprising:

advancing a thrombectomy catheter to a target region in the body lumen, the thrombectomy catheter comprising:

a catheter body having a proximal end region, a distal end region and an aspiration lumen extending within at least a portion of the catheter body, the aspiration lumen extending along a longitudinal axis; and

an infusion lumen and an infusion orifice disposed within the catheter body, wherein the infusion orifice extends from the infusion lumen into the aspiration lumen at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis;

infusing fluid through the infusion lumen and the infusion orifice such that the infusion fluid passes into the aspiration lumen at an angle that is offset relative to the longitudinal axis.

39 . The thrombectomy catheter of claim 38 , wherein the aspiration lumen is configured to receive thrombus therein, and wherein the fluid infused through the infusion orifice is configured to break apart the thrombus within the aspiration lumen.

40 . The thrombectomy catheter of claim 39 , wherein the fluid infused through the infusion orifice carries the broken apart thrombus through the aspiration lumen to the proximal end region of the catheter body.