Embolic protection methods

Abstract

An embolic protection device comprises a tubular filter body attached to a sheath. The tubular filter body has an open upstream end and a generally closed downstream end for capturing emboli. A self-opening passage through the emboli capture end of the tubular filter body allows multiple catheters to be advanced from the sheath or otherwise into the filter body simultaneously or sequentially. The sheath is attached to a peripheral support structure near the emboli capture end of the filter body to facilitate deployment and retrieval of the filter body through a restraining delivery catheter.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An embolic protection method comprising:
 introducing an interventional catheter into a patient's femoral artery;   advancing a filter catheter having a filter body at a distal end thereof through the patient's contralateral femoral artery and into the patient's aortic arch;   positioning the filter catheter to locate the filter body in the aortic arch to cover the patient's aortic side branch arteries;   advancing the interventional catheter in parallel to the filter catheter, through the filter body, and to the patient's aortic valve;   performing an intervention on the aortic valve with the interventional catheter, wherein the intervention can release emboli into the patient's ascending aorta and wherein the filter body inhibits the entry of the emboli into the side branch arteries.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the intervention comprises placement of a prosthetic aortic valve. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the intervention comprises repair of the patient's aortic valve. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the intervention comprises valvuloplasty of the patient's aortic valve. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein introducing and advancing the interventional catheter comprises placing a first delivery sheath through the patient's femoral artery to the patient's aortic arch and advancing the interventional catheter therethrough. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein advancing the filter catheter comprises placing a second delivery sheath through the patient's contralateral femoral artery and advancing the filter catheter therethrough. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising expanding the filter body a tubular configuration to circumferentially engage a wall of the aortic arch to cover the patient's aortic side branch arteries. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein expanding the filter body comprises expanding a collapsible support coupled to a periphery of one end of the filter body. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein expanding the filter body comprises releasing the filter body from radial constraint. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the filter body is advanced while radially constrained in a deployment catheter and is deployed by retracting the deployment catheter to allow the filter body to radially expand. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the tubular filter body has an open upstream end which faces the patient's heart to direct blood flow and emboli into the open upstream chamber of the filter body, and wherein blood free from emboli flows through a tubular wall of the porous mesh into the aortic side vessels. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the interventional catheter is advanced through a port in the tubular filter body. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the port seals against the interventional catheter to inhibit the passage of emboli. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising advancing a diagnostic catheter through the filter body. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the diagnostic catheter is introduced through the contralateral femoral artery.