US 11969333

Patent Information

• Patent Number: US 11,969,333 B2
• Title: System for treating embolism and associated devices and methods
• Assignee: Inari Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: Ben Merritt, Jacqueline Macias, Brian Michael Strauss, Thomas Tu, John Coleman Thress, Paul Lubock
• Filing Date: June 5, 2023
• Issue Date: April 30, 2024
• Abstract: The present technology relates generally to systems, methods, and devices for the intravascular treatment of emboli and/or thrombi within a blood vessel of a human patient. In some embodiments, the present technology relates to systems for releasing stored vacuum pressure to aspirate clot material from a blood vessel. For example, a catheter can be intravascularly positioned within a blood vessel such that a distal portion (e.g., a distal opening) of the catheter is positioned proximate to clot material within the blood vessel. The catheter can be fluidly coupled to a pressure source via a valve or other fluid control device positioned outside of the patient. With the valve closed, the pressure source can be activated to charge a vacuum chamber of the pressure source with a vacuum. The valve can then be opened to apply the vacuum to the catheter to thereby aspirate at least a portion of the clot material from the blood vessel into the catheter. In some embodiments, an interventional device can be delivered through the catheter and used to engage the clot material before and/or after the vacuum is applied to the catheter.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims

Based on the provided full text of the patent, here is a plain-language summary of the independent claims:

• Claim 1: Describes a medical system for removing clots. This system includes an aspiration catheter, a collection canister, and a suction device (like a large syringe). A key feature is a tube connecting the catheter to the canister, which has a specific inner diameter (at least 0.25 inches) and length (no more than 48 inches). This design aims to create a rapid and powerful suction force when a pre-generated vacuum from the syringe is released, quickly pulling the clot through the catheter and into the canister.

• Claim 12: Details a method for removing a clot from a blood vessel. The process involves:

  1. Placing an aspiration catheter near the clot.
  2. Connecting this catheter to a collection canister using a specific type of tube (at least 0.25-inch inner diameter and no more than 48 inches long).
  3. Generating a vacuum in a separate syringe (at least 60 mL volume).
  4. Connecting the syringe to the canister.
  5. Rapidly opening a valve to apply the stored vacuum, which aspirates the clot into the canister.
     The method emphasizes that the pressure inside the system equalizes in less than one second, creating a high-velocity flow to capture the clot.

Litigation Status

As of the current date, May 14, 2026, records indicate the following legal proceedings involving US Patent 11,969,333:

• PTAB Case IPR2025-01021: An Inter Partes Review (IPR) has been filed with the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). The case is currently in the "Pending - Instituted" phase, meaning the PTAB has found sufficient grounds to proceed with a trial to review the patent's validity.
• District Court Cases: Two lawsuits have been filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, docket numbers 5:24-cv-03117 and 3:24-cv-03117.

These actions indicate that the validity and/or infringement of US Patent 11,969,333 is being actively challenged.