Patent ID: 7018393

Claim:
A system for enabling the capture of embolic material which may be released into a blood vessel during a therapeutic interventional procedure at a site of a stenosis, comprising: a guide wire, including a distal end, adapted to be positioned within the blood vessel and to extend to a position distal to an interventional procedure site and a proximal end, adapted to remain outside of the blood vessel during the therapeutic procedure; and a filter device having an interior and an exterior, adapted to be positioned and deployed at a location in the patient's vasculature distal to the interventional procedure site, and to capture embolic material which may be released into the blood in the blood vessel during the interventional procedure, including a compressing element located in the interior of the filter device, for compressing the filter device so as to enable the filter device to be inserted over the guide wire, to the position distal to the interventional procedure site, in a low profile for crossing the stenosis, and without a sheath extending about the filter device, adapted to enable release thereof so as to enable expansion of the filter device for deployment thereof.