Embodiments disclosed herein relate to an aspiration catheter comprising a catheter body that can have a first end and a second end and an aspiration lumen extending through the catheter body. The aspiration lumen can have an aspiration opening located in a distal portion of the aspiration catheter. The catheter can have an assistive jet element extending through a wall of the aspiration lumen. The assistive jet element can have an assistive jet channel. The assistive jet element can be adaptable to draw blood through the assistive jet element from a location outside of the catheter body adjacent to the assistive jet element and into the aspiration lumen when suction is applied to the aspiration lumen and can be configured to break apart a thrombus or obstruction in the aspiration lumen.