Patent ID: 6949103
Filing Date: 2005-09-27
Classification: A61B,A61F,B21F

Abstract:
1. A method of protecting a patient from embolization during a percutaneous procedure on a vessel, comprising: providing a guidewire having proximal and distal ends, a proximal and a distal region, an expandable filter carried by the guidewire at the distal region such that the expandable filter is advanced by advancing the guidewire and retracted by retracting the guidewire, and a removable sheath which covers the expandable filter and is slidable over the guidewire; providing a balloon catheter having an inflatable balloon associated with a distal region of the balloon catheter; introducing the distal end of the guidewire into the patient's vessel with the sheath covering the expandable filter, and positioning the filter downstream of a treatment site, wherein the sheath and guidewire cross the treatment site; sliding the sheath toward the proximal end of the guidewire and removing the sheath from the vessel, wherein the expandable filter is uncovered; deploying the filter; advancing over the guidewire a balloon catheter to the treatment site; and inflating the balloon at the treatment site, wherein embolic material is generated and captured before the expandable filter is removed from the patient's vessel.