Embolic protection device

Abstract

The embolic protection device (10) has an expandable tubular structure supporting a filter mesh material (12). The embolic protection device is compressed to a small diameter for insertion into a patient's aorta, then expanded within the aorta with the filter mesh material positioned to allow blood to enter sidebranch vessels connected to the aorta and to prevent embolic material from entering the sidebranch vessels. The filter mesh material may be configured with waves or undulations (26) for increased surface area and/or with two layers of mesh material to provide additional protection against embolization and to prevent inadvertent occlusion of the sidebranch vessels.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . An embolic protection device for deployment within a patient's aorta comprising:
 a mesh structure configured to be compressed in a delivery tube for insertion into the patient's aorta and to expand to a larger size when released from the delivery tube within the patient's aorta such that one side of tubular mesh structure covers ostia of side branch vessels connected to the patient's aorta and allow blood to enter the side branch vessels and prevents embolic material from entering the side branch vessels, wherein the mesh structure is configured to circumferentially cover the walls of the aorta and ostia of the side branch vessels so that the mesh structure will not interfere with performing cardiac surgery or catheter-based interventional cardiology or electrophysiology procedures, wherein said mesh structure has a length sufficient to cover all ostia of side branch vessels connected to the patient's aorta in the area of the aortic arch.   
     
     
         3 . The embolic protection device of  claim 2 , further comprising a handle or cannula attached to the mesh structure for insertion through peripheral vasculature or an aortotomy. 
     
     
         4 . The embolic protection device of  claim 2 , further comprising one or more wire hoops configured for supporting the mesh structure within the patient's aorta. 
     
     
         5 . The embolic protection device of  claim 2 , wherein at least a portion of the mesh structure is coated with an anti-thrombogenic coating. 
     
     
         6 . The embolic protection device of  claim 2 , wherein the expandable structure is woven of resilient wires and/or fibers to form a tubular filter. 
     
     
         7 . The embolic protection device of  claim 2 , wherein the filter mesh material is configured with waves or undulations. 
     
     
         8 . The embolic protection device of  claim 2 , wherein the mesh structure is configured as a tubular structure with an inner layer of filter mesh and an outer layer of filter mesh. 
     
     
         9 . The embolic protection device of  claim 8 , wherein the inner layer of tubular mesh structure comprises a coarse mesh material and the outer layer of filter mesh comprises a fine mesh material. 
     
     
         10 . The embolic protection device of  claim 2 , further comprising a drawstring encircling one end of the mesh structure. 
     
     
         11 . The embolic protection device of  claim 2 , further comprising a plurality of magnets attached to the mesh structure and a magnetic retrieval catheter for collapsing the tubular mesh structure and withdrawing the embolic protection device from the patient. 
     
     
         12 . The embolic protection device of  claim 2 , further comprising an inflatable toroidal balloon for supporting the mesh structure. 
     
     
         13 . A system for embolic protection, said system comprising:
 an embolic protection device according to  claim 2 ; and   a delivery tube sized and configured to hold the mesh structure in a compressed tubular configuration.