Patent ID: 7306575

Claim:
A method for removing embolic material during an open surgical procedure, comprising the steps of: making an incision in an aorta; introducing a distal end of a cannula into the aorta through the incision, wherein the cannula has an outer surface, a distal end adapted to enter an artery, a proximal end, a filter disposed about the distal end of the cannula which is expandable and contractable between a contracted condition and an enlarged condition, and an occluder which is expandable and contractable between a contracted condition and an expanded condition, and wherein the filter is in the contracted condition; expanding the filter; expanding the occluder to occlude the aorta in a region upstream of the filter, and thereafter contracting the occluder; contracting the filter with embolic material from the aorta captured therein; and removing the cannula and the captured embolic material from the aorta.