Patent ID: 7846176
Filing Date: 2010-12-07
Classification: A61B,A61F

Abstract:
1. A method of providing embolic protection, comprising: delivering a guidewire through a vascular system of a patient; delivering a filter element on the guidewire to a location within a blood vessel that is distal to a treatment location, the filter element being delivered in a collapsed stored position for movement through the vascular system; expanding the filter element to an expanded position in which the filter element at least partially contacts a wall of the blood vessel such that blood passing through the blood vessel is delivered through the filter element but embolic material in the blood is retained in the filter element, and the guidewire is slidable relative to the entire filter element when the filter element is in the expanded position; delivering an interventional device to the treatment location while the filter is in the expanded position, the interventional device being directly engaged with the guidewire in vivo; performing an interventional procedure at the treatment location; advancing a retrieval catheter over the filter element; at least partially collapsing the filter element; and withdrawing the retrieval catheter and filter element from the blood vessel, wherein the filter element comprises a collapsible filter body and a collapsible filter support frame, the filter body having a proximal inlet end and a distal outlet end, the inlet end of the filter body having one or more large inlet openings, and the outlet end of the filter body having a plurality of small outlet openings sized to allow through passage of blood but to retain undesired embolic material within the filter body.