US 8613717

Analysis of U.S. Patent 8,613,717

Date of Analysis: April 26, 2026

This report provides a summary of United States Patent 8,613,717, including its key bibliographic details and a plain-language explanation of its independent claims.

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Bibliographic Information

• Title: Systems and methods for removing and fragmenting undesirable material within a circulatory system
• Assignee: The listed current assignee is Angiodynamics Inc. The original assignee was also Angiodynamics Inc.
• Inventors: Lishan Aklog, Michael Glennon
• Filing Date: April 12, 2011
• Issue Date: December 24, 2013
• Abstract: A method for removing an undesirable material is provided. The method includes maneuvering a first cannula within a vessel such that it is positioned for capturing the undesirable material. The method also includes positioning a second cannula within the vessel such that it is in a spaced relation to the first cannula. A suction force may be provided so as to capture the undesirable material through the first cannula. The undesirable material may be fragmenting as it is drawn along the first cannula, so as to enhance removal of the undesirable material through the first cannula. A system for removing an undesirable material is also provided.

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Litigation Search

A search of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) dockets for the year 2026 did not reveal any proceedings specifically involving US patent 8,613,717.

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Plain-Language Summary of Independent Claims

This patent has three independent claims: Claim 1 (a method), Claim 10 (a system), and Claim 18 (an apparatus).

• Claim 1 (Method): This claim describes a medical procedure for removing unwanted material, such as a blood clot, from a blood vessel. The method involves two main steps. First, a flexible tube (a "first cannula") is guided through the blood vessel to the location of the unwanted material. Second, a suction force is applied through this tube to capture and remove the material. A key part of this method is that as the material is being sucked into the tube, it is intentionally broken into smaller pieces ("fragmented") to make it easier to remove through the tube. The method also describes positioning a second tube ("second cannula") in the same vessel but at a distance from the first, which can be used to return filtered fluid to the patient.

• Claim 10 (System): This claim outlines the complete set of tools required to perform the method described in Claim 1. The system includes:

  • A "first cannula" (a suction tube) for capturing the undesirable material.
  • A "second cannula" (a return tube) for reinfusing fluid back into the patient at a different location within the vessel.
  • A pump that creates the suction for the first tube and pushes fluid through the second.
  • A "fragmentation device" located at the tip of the suction tube. This device, which could be a set of blades or a grate, is designed to break the unwanted material into smaller pieces as it is pulled into the tube.

• Claim 18 (Apparatus): This claim focuses specifically on the design of the suction tube ("apparatus") itself. The key features of this tube are:

  • An elongated body with a passage for the removed material.
  • A funnel-like structure at the tip that can be expanded from a collapsed state to an open, flared position to help guide and capture the unwanted material.
  • A "grate" positioned in line with the internal passage. This grate acts as the fragmentation device, breaking up the material as it is drawn through the funnel and into the tube, making it easier to transport away from the site.