An embolic protection device (100, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900) comprising: an angiography catheter (102, 200, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602, 702, 802, 902, 1202, 1302) having a proximal end (114, 214, 714), a distal end (116, 216, 716), and a lumen (118, 218, 718) extending from the proximal end (114, 214, 714) of the catheter (102, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602, 702, 802, 902, 1202, 1302) to the distal end (116, 216, 716) of the catheter (102, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602, 702, 802, 902, 1202, 1302), the lumen (118, 218, 718) configured to house a guidewire (740, 1040), a distal portion (104, 204, 704) of the catheter (102, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602, 702, 802, 902, 1202, 1302) configured to assume a generally arcuate shape being at least a semi-circle; the distal portion (104, 204, 704) of the catheter (102, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602, 702, 802, 902, 1202, 1302) comprising a longitudinally-extending radiopaque marker (106, 206, 706, 1306) configured to be arcuate and on a distal-most section of the catheter (102, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602, 702, 802, 902, 1202, 1302) when the distal portion (104, 204, 704) is in the generally arcuate shape; a self-expanding embolic filter (110, 310, 410, 510, 610, 910, 1210, 1310) coupled to a side of the catheter (102, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602, 702, 802, 902, 1202, 1302) proximal to the distal portion (104, 204, 704), the embolic filter (110, 310, 410, 510, 610, 910, 1210, 1310) having a generally conical shape, the embolic filter (110, 310, 410, 510, 610, 910, 1210, 1310) comprising a distal opening (140, 340, 540, 640) having an elliptical shape and extending proximally from the distal opening (140, 340, 540, 640) to a closed proximal end (142, 342); wherein the distal opening (140, 340, 540, 640) of the embolic filter (110, 310, 410, 510, 610, 910, 1210, 1310) faces the distal portion (104, 204, 704) and is attached to a self-expanding frame configured to self-expand to a radially expanded open configuration; and a deployment mechanism (112, 312, 412, 512, 612, 712, 812, 912) circumferentially around at least a portion of the catheter (102, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602, 702, 802, 902, 1202, 1302) and longitudinally movable with respect to the catheter (102, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602, 702, 802, 902, 1202, 1302), the deployment mechanism (112, 312, 412, 512, 612, 712, 812, 912) configured to contain the embolic filter (110, 310, 410, 510, 610, 910, 1210, 1310) in a collapsed configuration, and the embolic filter (110, 310, 410, 510, 610, 910, 1210, 1310) configured to self-expand upon longitudinal proximal retraction of the deployment mechanism (112, 312, 412, 512, 612, 712, 812, 912). an angiography catheter (102, 200, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602, 702, 802, 902, 1202, 1302) having a proximal end (114, 214, 714), a distal end (116, 216, 716), and a lumen (118, 218, 718) extending from the proximal end (114, 214, 714) of the catheter (102, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602, 702, 802, 902, 1202, 1302) to the distal end (116, 216, 716) of the catheter (102, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602, 702, 802, 902, 1202, 1302), the lumen (118, 218, 718) configured to house a guidewire (740, 1040), a distal portion (104, 204, 704) of the catheter (102, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602, 702, 802, 902, 1202, 1302) configured to assume a generally arcuate shape being at least a semi-circle; the distal portion (104, 204, 704) of the catheter (102, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602, 702, 802, 902, 1202, 1302) comprising a longitudinally-extending radiopaque marker (106, 206, 706, 1306) configured to be arcuate and on a distal-most section of the catheter (102, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602, 702, 802, 902, 1202, 1302) when the distal portion (104, 204, 704) is in the generally arcuate shape; a self-expanding embolic filter (110, 310, 410, 510, 610, 910, 1210, 1310) coupled to a side of the catheter (102, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602, 702, 802, 902, 1202, 1302) proximal to the distal portion (104, 204, 704), the embolic filter (110, 310, 410, 510, 610, 910, 1210, 1310) having a generally conical shape, the embolic filter (110, 310, 410, 510, 610, 910, 1210, 1310) comprising a distal opening (140, 340, 540, 640) having an elliptical shape and extending proximally from the distal opening (140, 340, 540, 640) to a closed proximal end (142, 342); wherein the distal opening (140, 340, 540, 640) of the embolic filter (110, 310, 410, 510, 610, 910, 1210, 1310) faces the distal portion (104, 204, 704) and is attached to a self-expanding frame configured to self-expand to a radially expanded open configuration; and a deployment mechanism (112, 312, 412, 512, 612, 712, 812, 912) circumferentially around at least a portion of the catheter (102, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602, 702, 802, 902, 1202, 1302) and longitudinally movable with respect to the catheter (102, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602, 702, 802, 902, 1202, 1302), the deployment mechanism (112, 312, 412, 512, 612, 712, 812, 912) configured to contain the embolic filter (110, 310, 410, 510, 610, 910, 1210, 1310) in a collapsed configuration, and the embolic filter (110, 310, 410, 510, 610, 910, 1210, 1310) configured to self-expand upon longitudinal proximal retraction of the deployment mechanism (112, 312, 412, 512, 612, 712, 812, 912).