Patent ID: 8038696

Claim:
A method for using an embolic protection filter assembly, comprising the steps of: providing an embolic protection filter assembly, the assembly including an elongate shaft, a filter coupled to the shaft, and a sheath disposed about a portion of the shaft and positioned adjacent the filter, the sheath including a port through a side wall of the sheath; shifting the filter to a first position within the sheath, wherein the first position includes at least a portion of the filter being positioned proximally of the port and collapsed within the sheath; providing a guidewire having a proximal end and a distal end; advancing the guidewire through a blood vessel so that the distal end is positioned adjacent a target region; inserting a removable introducer member through the port, the introducer member having a first end, a body portion, and a second end; configuring the introducer member so that the first end is disposed along an exterior surface of the sheath, the body portion extends through the port and into a lumen defined by the sheath, and the second end is disposed distally of a distal end of the sheath; passing the proximal end of the guidewire through the introducer member and the sheath simultaneously; advancing the filter assembly over the guidewire until the filter assembly is positioned adjacent the target region; retracting the guidewire from the blood vessel; and shifting the filter to a second position, wherein the second position includes the filter being positioned distally of the sheath and expanded.