Embolic Protection Catheter and Related Devices and Methods

Abstract

Embolic material capture catheters and related devices and methods constrain a distal end portion of an embolic material capture element in an insertion configuration. A method of deploying an embolic material capture element in a blood vessel includes constraining a distal end portion of the embolic material capture element in an insertion configuration via engagement with a dilator assembly. The embolic material capture element, in the insertion configuration, is advanced through the blood vessel. A deployment cap of the dilator assembly is distally advanced relative to a dilator sheath of the dilator assembly to release the distal end portion of the embolic material capture element from engagement with the dilator assembly to reconfigure the embolic material capture element from the insertion configuration to a fully deployed configuration via self-expansion of the embolic material capture element.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of deploying an embolic material capture element in a blood vessel, the method comprising:
 constraining a proximal end portion of an embolic material capture element via attachment to a distal end portion of an inner sheath having an inner sheath lumen;   constraining a distal end portion of the embolic material capture element in an insertion configuration of the embolic material capture element via engagement of the distal end portion of the embolic material capture element with a dilator assembly that extends through the inner sheath lumen, wherein the dilator assembly comprises a dilator sheath and a deployment cap assembly, wherein the dilator sheath defines a dilator sheath lumen, and wherein the deployment cap assembly is slidably disposed in the dilator sheath lumen;   advancing the embolic material capture element in the insertion configuration through the blood vessel; and   distally advancing the deployment cap assembly relative to the dilator sheath to release the distal end portion of the embolic material capture element from engagement with the dilator assembly to reconfigure the embolic material capture element from the insertion configuration to a fully deployed configuration via self-expansion of the embolic material capture element.