Deployment and recovery control systems for embolic protection devices

An embolic protection system, comprising:

• a guide wire having a distal end;
• an expandable filter located near the distal end of the guide wire;
• a restraining sheath extending over the guide wire in a coaxial arrangement and adapted to maintain the expandable filter in a collapsed position, the restraining sheath having a proximal end and a distal end;
• a torque control device adapted to be connected to the guide wire for rotating the guide wire;
• and
• a spacer member adapted to be removably connected to the guide wire and placed between the torque control device and the proximal end of the restraining sheath for preventing the restraining sheath from moving proximally on the guide wire until the spacer member is removed from the guide wire.

A method for deploying within a body lumen an embolic protection device, which includes a guide wire, an expandable filter disposed on the guide wire, and a restraining sheath for maintaining the expandable filter in a collapsed position, comprising:

• placing a deployment control system on the guide wire proximal to the expandable filter, the deployment control system including a torque control device for rotating the guide wire and a spacer member disposed between the torque control device and the proximal end of the restraining sheath;
• introducing the embolic protection device with the attached deployment control system into the body vessel;
• advancing the expandable filter of the embolic protection device to the desired location in the body vessel;
• removing the spacer member from the guide wire;
• and
• moving the restraining sheath proximally toward the torque control device to retract the retaining sheath and deploy the expandable filter within the body vessel.

A system for recovering an embolic protection device which includes a guide wire and expandable filter disposed thereon, comprising:

• an inner catheter having a distal portion and a proximal end and being moveable along the guide wire;
• a control handle attached to the proximal end of the inner catheter;
• a recovery sheath having a distal end and a proximal end;
• and
• a control handle attached to the proximal end of the recovery sheath, wherein the inner catheter is capable of being loaded inside the recovery sheath with the distal portion of the inner catheter extending distally beyond the distal end of the recovery sheath when the inner catheter and recovery sheath are being advanced along the guide wire for placement in proximity to the expandable filter of the embolic protection device, the recovery sheath having sufficient column strength to collapse the expandable filter when advanced over the expandable filter.

An embolic protection system, comprising:

• a guide wire having a distal end;
• an expandable filter located near the distal end of the guide wire;
• an inner catheter having a distal portion and a control handle located at a proximal end, wherein the inner catheter is capable of being introduced over the guide wire;
• and
• a recovery sheath having a distal end and a control handle located at a proximal end, wherein the inner catheter is capable of being loaded inside of a lumen of the recovery sheath, wherein the distal portion of the inner catheter extends distally beyond the distal end of recovery sheath when being advanced along the guide wire to retrieve the expandable filter, the recovery sheath having sufficient column strength to collapse the expandable filter when advanced over the expandable filter.

A method of recovering a n embolic protection device which includes a guide wire and an expandable filter from a body vessel, comprising:

• loading an inner catheter inside a recovery sheath, wherein the inner catheter has a distal portion which extends beyond the distal end of the recovery lumen;
• introducing the inner catheter and recovery sheath over the guide wire;
• advancing the distal end of the inner catheter to a position adjacent to the expanded filter;
• locking the inner catheter onto the guide wire;
• advancing the recovery sheath over the distal portion of the inner catheter and the expanded filter to collapse the expanded filter.