The patent US1890180B2 is currently under litigation in the case Inari Medical, Inc. v. Inquis Medical, Inc. This patent covers an intravascular clot removal system designed to treat pulmonary embolism (PE) and deep vein thrombosis (DVT) using a catheter-based aspiration technique.
The technology enables a stored vacuum pressure system to rapidly extract clot material from blood vessels, aiming to improve procedural efficiency and patient outcomes. Given the competitive nature of thrombectomy devices, potential prior art could challenge the novelty and validity of this patent in court.
This article examines five potential prior art references that may impact US1890180B2 using insights from the Global Patent Search (GPS) tool to compare key features and assess their relevance in this litigation.
Understanding Patent US11890180B2
Patent US11890180B2, titled “System for Treating Embolism and Associated Devices and Methods,” covers intravascular clot removal systems and methods for treating embolism and thrombosis in human patients. The patent focuses on aspiration-based thrombectomy techniques utilizing a catheter system with a pre-charged vacuum pressure source to extract clot material from blood vessels.
Key Features of the patent are:
#1. Catheter-Based Clot Removal – A catheter is positioned proximate to the clot within a blood vessel for aspiration.
#2. Pre-Charged Vacuum Mechanism – A pressure source charges a vacuum while a fluid control device (valve) remains closed.
#3. Rapid Suction Activation – Opening the valve instantly applies the vacuum to generate strong suction for clot removal.
#4. High Flow Rate Extraction – The system achieves a flow rate exceeding 60 cubic centimeters per second, improving clot aspiration efficiency.
Source: US11890180
The patent is central to litigation between Inari Medical, Inc. and Inquis Medical, Inc., likely over competitive thrombectomy devices. The case may hinge on whether prior art demonstrates pre-existing intravascular clot removal systems with similar vacuum-based aspiration mechanisms, challenging the patent’s novelty and validity.
Potential Prior Art References for US11890180B2
#1. US6719717B1
This patent, filed on March 17, 2000, describes a percutaneous thrombectomy system designed to remove blood clots from a patient’s vascular system. It utilizes a catheter-based suction mechanism. It withdraws clot material into a filtration device before reinfusing the filtered blood back into the patient. The system includes a suction source but does not explicitly mention a pre-charged vacuum system or a fluid control device for selective application of suction.
Why this qualifies as Potential Prior Art?
- A method for treating clot material within a patient’s vasculature – The system removes clots using suction through a catheter.
- A catheter is positioned proximate to the clot material within the vasculature – The catheter is inserted and advanced to the clot site.
- The catheter is fluidically coupled to a pressure source via a fluid control device – The catheter connects to a suction source via a filtration device, but a separate fluid control device is not explicitly mentioned.
- The generated flow aspirates at least a portion of the clot material into the catheter – The system applies suction to remove clot material from the blood vessel.
Which features of US11890180B2 are disclosed by US6719717B1?
| Key Feature of Claim 1 | Disclosure Status |
| A method for treating clot material | Fully disclosed |
| A catheter positioned near the clot | Fully disclosed |
| Catheter fluidically coupled to pressure source via fluid control device | Partially disclosed |
| Flow aspirates clot material into catheter | Fully disclosed |
Key Excerpt from US6719717B1:
“By the method of the present invention, a catheter is inserted into a graft or a selected blood vessel of a patient and is advanced until the distal end of the catheter is located at a selected target site at a blood clot. Suction is applied to a blood filtration device which is in fluid communication with the proximal end of the catheter. The suction draws the blood clot and any accompanying blood into the distal end of the catheter, removing the clot from the patient.”
#2. US6540712B1
This patent, filed on March 20, 2000, describes a catheter-based embolic protection system designed to remove emboli and clot material from the carotid arteries during interventional procedures. The system induces controlled retrograde blood flow to prevent emboli from entering the cerebral vasculature.
Source: GPS
Why this qualifies as Potential Prior Art?
- A method for treating clot material within a patient’s vasculature – The reference discusses methods for treating emboli and clot material, specifically in the carotid arteries, during interventional procedures.
- A catheter is positioned proximate to the clot material within the vasculature – The reference describes positioning a catheter at the clot site to facilitate emboli removal.
- The catheter is fluidically coupled to a pressure source via a fluid control device – The reference mentions a catheter with an aspiration lumen and connections to external components, but it does not explicitly state fluidic coupling to a pressure source via a fluid control device.
- The generated flow aspirates at least a portion of the clot material into the catheter – The reference describes using retrograde flow to aspirate emboli or clot material into the catheter.
Which features of US11890180B2 are disclosed by US6540712B1?
| Key Feature of Claim 1 | Disclosure Status |
| A method for treating clot material | Fully Disclosed |
| A catheter positioned near the clot | Fully Disclosed |
| Catheter fluidically coupled to pressure source via fluid control device | Partially disclosed |
| Flow aspirates clot material into catheter | Fully Disclosed |
Key Excerpt from US6540712B1:
“The foregoing objects of the present invention are accomplished by providing interventional apparatus comprising an arterial catheter, an occlusion balloon disposed on a guide wire, a venous return catheter, and, optionally, a blood filter and flow control valve. The arterial catheter has an aspiration lumen that facilitates controlled retrograde blood flow to remove emboli from the treatment zone.”
#3. US20020151922A1
This patent, filed on March 14, 2002, describes an embolus removal system that utilizes proximal and distal catheters. They are connected to a venous return catheter through a manifold with a multi-position valve. The system is designed to aspirate emboli and prevent their migration during surgical procedures.
Why this qualifies as Potential Prior Art?
- A catheter is positioned at least partially within the vasculature proximate to clot material – The reference describes catheters being placed proximal and distal to a stenosis for emboli removal.
- The catheter is fluidically coupled to a pressure source via a fluid control device – The catheter connects to a manifold with a multi-position valve, which enables fluid communication but does not explicitly mention a pressure source or separate fluid control device.
- Opening the fluid control device connects the pressure source to the catheter – The manifold’s valve selectively connects catheters, implying a mechanism for opening a control device, though not explicitly stated.
- The generated flow aspirates at least a portion of the clot material into the catheter – The reference describes negative pressure creating blood flow that removes emboli into the catheter.
Which features of US11890180B2 are disclosed by US20020151922A1?
| Key Feature of Claim 1 | Disclosure Status |
| A catheter positioned near the clot | Fully Disclosed |
| Catheter fluidically coupled to pressure source via fluid control device | Partially disclosed |
| Opening the fluid control device connects pressure source | Partially disclosed |
| Closing the fluid control device disconnects pressure source | Partially disclosed |
| With control device closed, negative pressure is generated | Partially disclosed |
| After generating negative pressure, control device is opened | Partially disclosed |
| Flow aspirates clot material into catheter | Fully Disclosed |
Key Excerpt from US20020151922A1:
“Valve 21 of manifold 20 initially is set so that venous return catheter 27 communicates solely with aspiration lumen 35 of distal catheter 14. Once distal catheter 14 and venous return catheter 27 are coupled to manifold 20 as described hereinabove, negative pressure in venous return catheter 27 during diastole will establish a low rate continuous flow of blood through aspiration lumen 35 of distal catheter 14, while maintaining the operative field substantially free of blood.”
#4. CA2454217A1
This patent, filed on July 18, 2002, describes a catheter-based emboli aspiration system designed to remove emboli from blood vessels during interventional procedures. The system includes a catheter connected to a syringe or vacuum source via a hemostatic valve, allowing emboli removal.
Why this qualifies as Potential Prior Art?
- A catheter is positioned at least partially within the vasculature proximate to clot material – The reference describes catheters used to aspirate emboli from blood vessels, indicating placement near clot material.
- The catheter is fluidically coupled to a pressure source via a fluid control device – The reference mentions a catheter connected to a syringe or vacuum source via a hemostatic valve, functioning as a fluid control device.
- Opening the fluid control device connects the pressure source to the catheter – The reference describes a hemostatic valve being opened to connect the syringe (pressure source) to the catheter.
- The generated flow aspirates at least a portion of the clot material into the catheter – The reference states that negative pressure is used to aspirate emboli into the catheter.
Which features of US11890180B2 are disclosed by CA2454217A1?
| Key Feature of Claim 1 | Disclosure Status |
| A catheter positioned near the clot | Fully Disclosed |
| Catheter fluidically coupled to pressure source via fluid control device | Partially disclosed |
| Opening the fluid control device connects pressure source | Fully Disclosed |
| Closing the fluid control device disconnects pressure source | Partially disclosed |
| After generating negative pressure, control device is opened | Fully Disclosed |
| Flow aspirates clot material into catheter | Fully Disclosed |
Key Excerpt from CA2454217A1:
“The aspiration recovery devices of the present invention are intended to remove emboli immediately adjacent to or contained within a filter sac of a vascular filter. Additionally, the aspiration device may be used to retrieve the vascular filter. The single catheter type device uses one catheter both to aspirate emboli and retrieve a vascular filter.”
#5. CA2721188A1
This patent, filed on June 14, 2000, describes an embolus removal system that utilizes an arterial catheter, occlusion balloon, and venous return catheter to remove emboli from carotid arteries during interventional procedures. The system optionally includes a blood filter, flow control valve, and an external pump to regulate blood flow.
Why this qualifies as Potential Prior Art?
- A catheter is positioned at least partially within the vasculature proximate to clot material – The reference describes a catheter placed in the carotid artery to remove emboli during interventional procedures.
- The catheter is fluidically coupled to a pressure source via a fluid control device – The reference mentions a catheter fluidically coupled to a venous return catheter and an optional external pump, but it does not explicitly describe a fluid control device.
- Opening the fluid control device connects the pressure source to the catheter – The reference describes a flow control valve that regulates blood flow, which implies it can connect the pressure source to the catheter.
- The generated flow aspirates at least a portion of the clot material into the catheter – The reference describes suction applied to aspirate emboli into the catheter.
Which features of US11890180B2 are disclosed by CA2721188A1?
| Key Feature of Claim 1 | Disclosure Status |
| A catheter positioned near the clot | Fully Disclosed |
| Catheter fluidically coupled to pressure source via fluid control device | Partially disclosed |
| Opening the fluid control device connects pressure source | Partially disclosed |
| Closing the fluid control device disconnects pressure source | Partially disclosed |
| With control device closed, negative pressure is generated | Partially disclosed |
| After generating negative pressure, control device is opened | Fully Disclosed |
| Flow aspirates clot material into catheter | Fully Disclosed |
Key Excerpt from CA2721188A1:
“Venous return line 52 is introduced into the patient’s femoral vein. Filter 50 is coupled between blood outlet port 48 of catheter 41 and blood inlet port 51 of venous return line 52. Once this circuit is closed, negative pressure in the venous catheter during diastole will establish a low rate continuous flow of blood through aspiration lumen 58 of catheter 41 to the patient’s vein via venous return line 52.”
Feature Comparison Table
| Feature | US 6,719,717 B1 | US 6,540,712 B1 | US 2002/0151922 A1 | CA 2,454,217 A1 | CA 2,721,188 A1 |
| A catheter positioned near the clot | Fully disclosed | Fully disclosed | Fully disclosed | Fully disclosed | Fully disclosed |
| Catheter fluidically coupled to pressure source via fluid control device | Partially disclosed | Partially disclosed | Partially disclosed | Partially disclosed | Partially disclosed |
| Opening the fluid control device connects pressure source | Not disclosed | Partially disclosed | Partially disclosed | Fully disclosed | Partially disclosed |
| Closing the fluid control device disconnects pressure source | Not disclosed | Partially disclosed | Partially disclosed | Partially disclosed | Partially disclosed |
| With control device closed, negative pressure is generated | Not disclosed | Not disclosed | Partially disclosed | Not disclosed | Partially disclosed |
| After generating negative pressure, control device is opened | Not disclosed | Not disclosed | Partially disclosed | Fully disclosed | Fully disclosed |
| Flow rate >60 cc/sec | Not disclosed | Not disclosed | Not disclosed | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Flow aspirates clot material into catheter | Fully disclosed | Fully disclosed | Fully disclosed | Fully disclosed | Fully disclosed |
How to Find Prior Art Using Global Patent Search
Finding relevant prior art is crucial for assessing a patent’s validity and identifying potential challenges. The Global Patent Search (GPS) tool streamlines this process by offering advanced search capabilities and structured feature mapping. Here is how you locate potential prior art:
#1. Conduct targeted searches – Retrieve relevant patents using a patent number, or short description to refine results.
Source: GPS
#2. Feature mapping – Compare key elements of the target patent against prior art to pinpoint similarities and distinctions.
Source: GPS
#3. Analyze matching references – Review a curated list of potential prior art that aligns with the patent’s core features.
#4. Detailed reports – Gain insights into full, partial, or missing disclosures within each reference to assess relevance.
#5. Strengthen legal strategies – Utilize data-driven insights to refine litigation strategies, assess patentability, or support invalidation arguments.
With Global Patent Search, professionals can efficiently navigate prior art landscapes, ensuring well-informed, strategic decision-making in patent disputes and evaluations.
Strengthen Your Patent Case with Comprehensive Prior Art Research
Patent litigation demands a strategic approach, and having the right prior art can make all the difference. The Global Patent Search (GPS) tool equips you with data-driven insights to support your case with confidence. With GPS, you gain:
#1. Fast and efficient prior art discovery – Access relevant references in seconds, eliminating the need for exhaustive manual searches.
#2. Advanced feature mapping – Identify exact matches, partial disclosures, and missing elements to evaluate claim strength.
#3. Comprehensive comparative analysis – Review detailed reports that highlight key similarities and differences between the target patent and prior art.
#4. Reliable, data-backed insights – Make informed legal decisions with thoroughly vetted references and structured analysis.
Gain the upper hand in your patent dispute with precise, evidence-based research. Start your search with Global Patent Search today.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. The prior art references mentioned are preliminary results from the Global Patent Search (GPS) tool and do not guarantee legal significance. For a comprehensive prior art analysis, we recommend conducting a detailed search using GPS or consulting a patent attorney.
