Removing Blood Clots from Brain Vessels with a Special Catheter
This patent describes a specialized catheter system designed to quickly remove blood clots from tiny blood vessels in the brain, often used to treat strokes, by using suction.
Original patent title: “Rapid aspiration thrombectomy system and method”
This patent describes a specialized catheter system designed to quickly remove blood clots from tiny blood vessels in the brain, often used to treat strokes, by using suction. Granted in 2026.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The patent describes an intravascular access system for medical procedures inside the brain's blood vessels, specifically for rapid aspiration thrombectomy. The system includes an aspiration or support catheter with a flexible, hollow tip (distal luminal portion) that has an inner diameter defining a lumen. This lumen extends from a proximal opening to a distal opening. A key feature is a rigid spine attached to at least the proximal end of this flexible tip, extending backward. The system also includes a dilator, which is a flexible, thin device designed to fit inside the catheter's hollow tip. This setup allows doctors to navigate delicate brain blood vessels, reach a clot, and remove it using aspiration, which means sucking it out.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover systems for removing clots from blood vessels outside the brain (e.g., in the heart or legs).
- Does not cover systems that use mechanical retrieval methods, like tiny cages or nets, instead of aspiration (suction).
- Does not cover catheter systems where the rigid spine is not coupled to the proximal end of the flexible luminal portion.
- Does not cover systems that lack a separate dilator component designed to be received within the catheter's lumen.
- Does not cover catheters where the distal luminal portion is not flexible.
- Does not cover systems where the rigid spine does not extend proximally from the luminal portion.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The clever part is combining a flexible catheter tip for navigating delicate brain vessels with a rigid spine attached proximally. This design likely provides better pushability and control for the surgeon while maintaining flexibility at the working end, which is essential for safely reaching and removing clots in the brain's intricate neurovasculature.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Neurovascular thrombectomy procedures
Catheters used in stroke treatment
Intravascular clot removal devices
Aspiration catheters for cerebral arteries
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This technology is crucial for treating ischemic strokes, which happen when a blood clot blocks blood flow to the brain. Rapid removal of these clots can significantly reduce brain damage and improve patient outcomes, potentially preventing long-term disability or death. Systems like this enable doctors to perform minimally invasive procedures, reducing risks compared to open surgery.
Filed
November 20, 2023
Granted
September 15, 2026
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Companies like Medtronic, Penumbra, and Stryker are major players in the neurovascular device space, constantly innovating in aspiration thrombectomy systems. These companies develop and refine catheters and related tools to improve stroke treatment outcomes. The original assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →, though unknown for this specific patent, would likely be a competitor or an innovator in this specialized medical field.
Market impact
The development of advanced aspiration thrombectomy systems has revolutionized acute ischemic stroke treatment, shifting it from largely supportive care to active clot removal. This has led to a significant reduction in stroke-related disability and mortality. Such systems have created a specialized market segment within medical devices, driving continuous innovation in catheter design, materials, and procedural techniques to enhance safety and efficacy.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The patent describes an intravascular access system for medical procedures inside the brain's blood vessels, specifically for rapid aspiration thrombectomy. The system includes an aspiration or support catheter with a flexible, hollow tip (distal luminal portion) that has an inner diameter defining a lumen. This lumen extends from a proximal opening to a distal opening. A key feature is a rigid spine attached to at least the proximal end of this flexible tip, extending backward. The system also includes a dilator, which is a flexible, thin device designed to fit inside the catheter's hollow tip. This setup allows doctors to navigate delicate brain blood vessels, reach a clot, and remove it using aspiration, which means sucking it out.
The clever bit
The clever part is combining a flexible catheter tip for navigating delicate brain vessels with a rigid spine attached proximally. This design likely provides better pushability and control for the surgeon while maintaining flexibility at the working end, which is essential for safely reaching and removing clots in the brain's intricate neurovasculature.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover systems for removing clots from blood vessels outside the brain (e.g., in the heart or legs).
- Does not cover systems that use mechanical retrieval methods, like tiny cages or nets, instead of aspiration (suction).
- Does not cover catheter systems where the rigid spine is not coupled to the proximal end of the flexible luminal portion.
- Does not cover systems that lack a separate dilator component designed to be received within the catheter's lumen.
- Does not cover catheters where the distal luminal portion is not flexible.
- Does not cover systems where the rigid spine does not extend proximally from the luminal portion.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
Claim breadth
0/20
Narrow claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
20/20
Granted within 5 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$26K – $84K
Midpoint $53K · 17.1 yr remaining · industry ×2.2
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
Concepts involved
Cite this patent
(2026). Removing Blood Clots from Brain Vessels with a Special Catheter (U.S. Patent No. 12,734,333). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12734333/rapid-aspiration-thrombectomy-system-and-method
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Removing Blood Clots from Brain Vessels with a Special Catheter cover?
This patent describes a specialized catheter system designed to quickly remove blood clots from tiny blood vessels in the brain, often used to treat strokes, by using suction.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on September 15, 2046, when the invention enters the public domain.
What problem does this patent solve?
This technology is crucial for treating ischemic strokes, which happen when a blood clot blocks blood flow to the brain. Rapid removal of these clots can significantly reduce brain damage and improve patient outcomes, potentially preventing long-term disability or death. Systems like this enable doctors to perform minimally invasive procedures, reducing risks compared to open surgery.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover systems for removing clots from blood vessels outside the brain (e.g., in the heart or legs).
Patent monitoring