Proximal embolic protection device for carotid stenting

A method of providing embolic protection for carotid stenting, the method comprising:

• advancing an arterial sheath into a patient's femoral artery, the arterial sheath defining an inner lumen having a diameter of at least 8 French, the arterial sheath including an inflatable balloon;
• advancing a venous sheath into the patient's femoral vein;
• establishing a fluid connection between the venous sheath and the arterial sheath to enable retrograde blood flow through the arterial sheath;
• advancing the arterial sheath through the patient's vasculature to a position proximate the patient's common carotid artery;
• inflating the inflatable balloon within the patient's common carotid artery in order to occlude antegrade blood flow through the patient's common carotid artery;
• and
• advancing an interventional tool having a maximum outer diameter of 6 French through the inner lumen of the arterial sheath.

A method of providing embolic protection for carotid stenting, the method comprising:

• advancing an arterial sheath into a patient's femoral artery, the arterial sheath defining an inner lumen having a diameter of at least 8 French, the arterial sheath including an inflatable balloon;
• wherein the arterial sheath comprises:
• an inner shaft having an inner shaft wall thickness of about 0.1 millimeters;
• an outer shaft having an outer sheath wall thickness of about 0.1 millimeters;
• and
• an annular inflation lumen extending between the inner shaft and the outer shaft, the annular inflation lumen having a cross-sectional area in a range of 0.4 square millimeters to 0.5 square millimeters;
• advancing a venous sheath into the patient's femoral vein;
• establishing a fluid connection between the venous sheath and the arterial sheath to enable retrograde blood flow through the arterial sheath;
• advancing the arterial sheath through the patient's vasculature to a position proximate the patient's common carotid artery;
• and
• inflating the inflatable balloon within the patient's common carotid artery in order to occlude antegrade blood flow through the patient's common carotid artery.