Distal protection device

A dilatation system, comprising:

• a dilatation device configured to fragment a restriction in a blood vessel;
• and
• an emboli capturing system, longitudinally movable within the blood vessel relative to the dilatation device, the emboli capturing system comprising:
• a guidewire having a longitudinal axis and defining a lumen along at least a portion thereof;
• an expandable member coupled to a distal portion of the guidewire and having an interior being in fluid communication with the lumen in the guidewire, the expandable member being configured to receive fluid through the lumen to expand radially outwardly relative to the guidewire and have fluid removed from the interior thereof to collapse radially inwardly relative to the guidewire, the expandable member, when expanded, having a spaced portion thereof spaced radially outwardly from the guidewire;
• and
• an emboli capturing device operably coupled to the expandable member and configured to deploy radially outwardly relative to the guidewire upon expansion of the expandable member.

A method of removing a restriction in a blood vessel comprising:

• providing a guidewire defining a lumen longitudinally therethrough with an inflatable member coupled to a distal portion of the guidewire and having an interior thereof in fluid communication with the lumen, the inflatable member being configured to receive fluid through the lumen to expand radially outwardly relative to the guidewire and have fluid removed from the interior thereof to collapse radially inwardly relative to the guidewire, the inflatable member, when inflated, having a spaced portion thereof, spaced radially outwardly from the guidewire;
• providing an emboli capturing device operably coupled to the inflatable member and configured to deploy radially outwardly relative to the guidewire upon inflation of the inflatable member;
• inserting the emboli capturing device in the blood vessel;
• advancing the emboli capturing device, by advancing the guidewire, distally of the restriction;
• advancing over the guidewire a dilatation device;
• inflating the inflatable member to deploy the emboli capturing device in an expanded position;
• fragmenting at least a potion of the restriction using the dilatation device;
• and
• capturing the fragmented portion of the restriction from blood in the blood vessel using the emboli capturing device.