Patent ID: 7214237

Claim:
A system for preventing embolism and microembolism in a vascular system, said system comprising: a guiding catheter having an outer surface; a blocking balloon carried by said guiding catheter on said outer surface an elongated support element arranged to extend through, and beyond, said guiding catheter; a first filter element with millipores carried by said support element and radially expandable from a closed condition to an open condition; a second filter element surrounding said support element and radially expandable from a closed condition to an open condition; and means coupled to at least one of said filter elements for moving said at least one of said filter elements between its respective closed and open conditions independently of movements of the other one of said filter elements between its respective closed and open conditions, wherein: each of said filter elements has an open front end constituting a passage through which particles pass into said filter element, a bottom end remote from said front end and a filter surface structured to prevent passage of particles and permit passage of blood; said first filter element has a conical shape with an apex at said bottom end, or a basket shape that is closed at said bottom end; said elongated support element is secured to said bottom end of said first filter element; said second filter element has a periphery delimiting said open front end and a central opening at said bottom end, spaced inwardly from said periphery; and said elongated support element extends through said central opening in said second filter element.