An improved system for removing thrombus from blood vessels comprising a catheter shaft having proximal and distal ends, designed to be advanced through a hemostasis valve and guide catheter and over a guidewire for placement of its distal end at a point proximal to a thrombus, the catheter shaft defining at least one longitudinally-extending lumen, the catheter having a guidewire retainer which retains the guidewire within the catheter in a peripheral or non-centered part of the catheter cross-section, the distal tip of the catheter being angled back from the guidewire retainer to allow the catheter to follow the guidewire around tight bends and across restrictions easily; a suction device in fluid communication with the proximal end of the catheter for providing vacuum down the catheter lumen to the distal tip, for drawing thrombus into the lumen; and the lumen terminating in an angled tip at the distal end, the angled tip improving the removal of thrombus adhering to the vessel wall and reducing clogging of the hole with thrombus.