Patent ID: 8303617

Claim:
A catheter having an expansible internal reception space for receiving an embolic protection filter and for transporting the filter through a vasculature; and the catheter comprising a treatment device to facilitate treatment of a site in a vasculature, wherein the catheter has an outer tubular body and an inner member extending at least partially through the outer body, the outer body having an expansible distal tip, and the inner member being movable proximally relative to the outer body from an introduction configuration to a retrieval configuration to facilitate retrieval of an embolic protection filter into the reception space; the inner member has a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the inner member has a first constant diameter, and the distal end of the inner member has a second constant diameter, the first constant diameter being larger than the second constant diameter; a distal tip of the inner member tapers distally inwardly, the inwardly tapering distal tip of the inner member being located on the inner member at a location distal of the treatment device during the introduction configuration, the treatment device is mounted on the distal end of the inner member, and a diameter of the distal tip is greater than the second constant diameter; the filter is separate from and slidable relative to the inner member and the outer tubular body; a distal end of the distal tip provides a proximal stop for the filter; the distal tip is adapted to slide completely within the outer body in the introduction configuration; and the distal tip comprises an engagement element adapted for retrieval of the filter.