Patent ID: 8430902

Claim:
A method for providing distal embolic protection during cardiovascular surgery, the method comprising: creating an incision at or near the apex of a patient's heart; collapsibly introducing a distal embolic protection assembly into the apex of the heart, the distal embolic protection assembly comprising a sleeve having a sleeve lumen with a stop latch matching groove; an actuating member having proximal and distal ends, wherein the actuating member is movably disposed within the sleeve lumen; and a filter assembly coupled to the distal end of the actuating member, the filter assembly comprising a porous bag having an open proximal end, and a collapsible and expandable frame comprising a stent coupled to the open proximal end of the bag; wherein the actuating member is configured to be pulled in a proximal direction to compress and retract the frame within the lumen of the sleeve and retain the frame in a collapsed state and wherein the actuating member is configured to be pushed in a distal direction out of the lumen to a deployed expanded state; and wherein the stent comprises a proximal collapsed end that remains within the sleeve lumen; a stop latch protruding from and biased in a distal direction, the stop latch being adapted to mate with the stop latch matching groove when the stent is expanded to a deployed condition; an expanded distal end that is coupled to and supports the open proximal end of the porous bag; and longitudinal arms joining the proximal collapsed end and the expanded distal end, the longitudinal arms being biased to expand radially to a deployed state; advancing the sleeve through the apex of the heart and to a target location downstream of an area in which valve repair or replacement surgery is to be performed; positioning the sleeve at or near the target location; and deploying the filter assembly by removing the frame from the lumen at the target location.