Embolic protection during percutaneous heart valve replacement and similar procedures

Abstract

Various devices are described to provide filtering of flow from the aorta to the left carotid artery and the right carotid artery. The filters can be brought into a desired position through one or more peripheral arteries. A single filter device can provide the desired filtering or a plurality of devices can be used. In particular a single filter device can span between the brachiocephalic artery and the left carotid artery. These filter devices can be used effectively to capture emboli generated during procedures on the heart so that emboli do not travel to the patient's brain where the emboli can cause a stroke or other adverse event. In particular, these filters can be used during percutaneous procedures on the heart, such as endovascular heart valve replacement.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A filtration system for capture emboli in a blood vessel comprising
 a tubular element,   a first sealing member and a second sealing member spaced apart and attached to the exterior of a distal section of the tubular element, with the first sealing member distal to the second sealing member,   a central port in the tubular element between the first sealing member and the second sealing member providing opening into a lumen extending past respectively the first sealing member and the second sealing member, and   one or more filtration elements associated with the lumen at the distal section of the tubular element,   wherein the first sealing member and the second sealing member each having a extending outward deployed configuration and a delivery configuration, and   wherein the filtration elements are configured such that fluid flows through the central port into the lumen, by passes respectively the first sealing member and the second sealing member and exits the tubular element through the one or more filtration elements.