Patent ID: 6929652

Claim:
A system for enabling at least one operator to control the delivery of an embolic protection device to a position in a patient's vasculature distal to an interventional procedure site for deployment of the embolic protection device, to enable the operator to control the removal of the delivery system from the patient's vasculature for the exchange of the delivery system, and to enable control of the position of a deployed embolic protection device within the patient's vasculature during an exchange of interventional devices, comprising: a guide wire, including a distal end, adapted to be positioned within the blood vessel and to extend to a position distal to the interventional procedure site, and to include an embolic protection device mounted on the distal end thereof; and a catheter, including a distal end, wherein the catheter has a lumen therein extending in the catheter to the distal end thereof, and wherein the guide wire and the embolic protection device are adapted to extend in and through the lumen, the catheter and the guide wire are adapted to enable the embolic protection device to be delivered and deployed distal to the interventional procedure site, the catheter including a distal portion which forms a housing for maintaining the embolic protection device in a delivery position and a port in communication with the lumen for enabling the guide wire to exit therefrom and extend therethrough outside and along the catheter, and a manipulation-enabling element for enabling at least one operator to manipulate the guide wire and the catheter independently so as to enable removal of the catheter from the patient's vasculature.