Embolic protection devices

An embolic protection device for capturing embolic debris released into a body vessel of a patient, comprising:

• an inner shaft member having distal and proximal ends;
• an outer tubular member having distal and proximal ends coaxially disposed over said inner shaft member;
• and
• a filtering assembly integral with the outer tubular member, the filtering assembly including an expandable strut assembly and a filter attached to the strut assembly element for capturing embolic debris, the expandable strut assembly having a plurality of expandable struts adapted to move between a collapsed position and an expanded position upon application of an axial force, the filter element being movable with the struts to the expanded position to contact the wall of the vessel to capture embolic debris released into the body lumen.

An embolic protection device for capturing embolic debris released into a body vessel of a patient, comprising:

• a shaft member having distal and proximal ends;
• a filtering assembly mounted on the shaft member, the filtering assembly including an expandable strut assembly and a filter attached to the strut assembly element for capturing embolic debris, the expandable strut assembly having a plurality of self expanding struts adapted to move between a collapsed position and an expanded position, the filter element being movable with the struts to the expanded position to contact the wall of the vessel to capture embolic debris released into the body lumen;
• and
• a dampening element adapted to at least partially absorb vibratory motion which may be transmitted along the shaft member and to at least partially isolate such vibratory motion from acting on the filtering assembly.

An embolic protection system for capturing embolic debris released into a body vessel of a patient, comprising:

• a shaft member having distal and proximal ends;
• a filtering assembly rotatably mounted on the shaft member, the filtering assembly including an expandable strut assembly and a filter attached to the strut assembly element for capturing embolic debris, the expandable strut assembly having a plurality of self expanding struts adapted to move between a collapsed position and an expanded position, the filter element being movable with the struts to the expanded position to contact the wall of the vessel to capture embolic debris released into the body lumen;
• and
• a restraining sheath having proximal and distal ends, the restraining sheath being coaxially disposed over the self-expanding struts to maintain the struts in the collapsed position until the filter assembly is to be deployed in the vessel.

A method of capturing embolic debris released into a blood vessel of a patient during an interventional procedure, in a system comprising an embolic protection device having a shaft member with distal and proximal ends and a filtering assembly rotatably mounted on the shaft member, the filtering assembly including an expandable strut assembly and a filter attached to the strut assembly element for capturing embolic debris, the expandable strut assembly having a plurality of expandable struts adapted to move between a collapsed position and an expanded position, the filter element being movable with the struts to the expanded position to contact the wall of the vessel to capture embolic debris released into the body lumen, wherein the method comprises of the steps of:

• positioning the filtering assembly while in the collapsed position within the body vessel at a downstream location from the site of the interventional procedure;
• expanding the struts of the strut assembly and the filter element to the expanded position to contact the wall of the vessel;
• performing the interventional procedure, which may release embolic debris into the blood vessel;
• filtering the blood and any embolic debris through the filter element;
• collapsing the filter assembly back down to the collapsed position;
• and
• removing the filtering assembly from the blood vessel.

An expandable strut assembly for moving a filter element between a collapsed and expanded position for capturing embolic debris released into a blood vessel of a patient, comprising:

• a first set of struts, each strut having a first and second end;
• a second set of struts, each strut having a first and second end;
• and
• a deployment member movable between a collapsed position and an expanded position, wherein each of the first ends of the first and second sets of struts are attached to the deployment member at different locations along the deployment member.