Minimally invasive medical device deployment and retrieval system

A method of retrieving particulate or other foreign material within a channel of a patient's body, comprising:

• a) providing a medical device having a vascular filter and a flexible, elongate shaft adapted to follow a path within the channel;
• and a retrieval sheath moveable with respect to the shaft, the retrieval sheath having a body and a distal tip comprising a distal length of the retrieval sheath, the body having a first longitudinal axis, the distal tip having a second longitudinal axis, the distal length being no greater than 5 cm, the distal tip being bent at an angle of between about 5° and about 30° with respect to the body such that the second longitudinal axis is bent with respect to the first longitudinal axis at an angle of between about 5° and about 30°;
• b) positioning the medical device within the channel;
• c) expanding the vascular filter to engage a wall of the channel and trap the material within the channel, the retrieval sheath being spaced proximally of the vascular filter along the shaft of the medical device;
• and
• d) withdrawing the medical device proximally so that at least a proximal length of the vascular filter of the medical device is retained within a lumen of the retrieval sheath.