US 11,896,250 B2
Aspiration systems and methods, and expanding-mouth catheters
Eric Mintz, Newport Beach, CA (US); Ujwal Jalgaonkar, Irvine, CA (US); Emma Hurst, Torrance, CA (US); and David P. Marchesiello, Laguna Niguel, CA (US)
Assigned to Covidien LP, Mansfield, MA (US)
Filed by Covidien LP, Mansfield, MA (US)
Filed on Aug. 31, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/008,234.
Prior Publication US 2022/0061872 A1, Mar. 3, 2022
Int. Cl. A61B 17/22 (2006.01); A61B 17/221 (2006.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/22031 (2013.01) [A61B 17/221 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00876 (2013.01); A61B 2017/22079 (2013.01); A61B 2217/005 (2013.01); A61M 2205/0272 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An aspiration system comprising:
a catheter including:
an elongated body defining an inner lumen; and
an expandable member at a distal portion of the elongated body, wherein the expandable member is configured to expand radially outward from a contracted configuration to an expanded configuration;
a suction source configured to apply a suction force to the catheter to remove fluid from the catheter; and
control circuitry configured to control the expandable member to move between the expanded configuration and the contracted configuration based on an expansion frequency, wherein the control circuitry is configured to determine the expansion frequency based on suction force applied by the suction source to the catheter.