Patent ID: 8591540

Claim:
An embolic filtering system used to capture embolic debris in a body vessel, comprising: an expandable filter assembly including a self-expanding frame moveable between an expanded position and an unexpanded position, the expandable filter being disposed on a guide wire; a filtering element attached to and movable with the frame; a sheath having a lumen for receiving the guide wire and having a distal end portion and a proximal end, the distal end portion of the sheath being adapted to receive the expandable filter assembly for maintaining the filter assembly in the unexpanded position and being movable to expose the filter assembly; and a torque device including: a handle with a lumen extending therethrough for receiving the guide wire which allows the handle to be directly mountable on the guide wire, means associated with the handle for locking the guide wire to the torque handle to allow the user to rotate the guide wire, a side port adapted to receive the proximal end of the sheath which allows a portion of the guide wire to shear the sheath from the guide wire through retraction of the sheath through the side port; and an extension arm extending from the handle which includes a distal end having an opening adapted to receive both the guide wire and the sheath, the end of the extension arm being disposed longitudinally away from the side port.