Acute thromboses of arteries are usually a medical emergency. The long-term objective of this project is to develop a pulsed fluidjet system for intravascular use to hydraulically remove clots and debris from occluded arteries via small caliber angiographic catheters. We propose a pulsed fluid irrigation system combined with aspiration through the lumen of the catheter. A specialized pump, catheter, and control system will be developed. The pump will provide variable pressure, flow, and pulse pattern. The attenation of the pressure pulse in the catheter will be analyzed to optimize the jet. The controls will allow the physician to select various operating parameters for the cutting jet. The goal of Phase I is establish the feasibility of such a system through laboratory testing of catheters and determination of cutting parameters on tissue samples. During Phase II, the system will be fabricated and refined through in vitro and in vivo animal testing. The resulting system for clearing thrombi will have immediate commercial application and could improve the health care for millions of patients.
