| abstract |
Embolic protection devices and methods for capturing embolic debris. An embolic protection device includes a pigtail catheter having a lumen for housing a guidewire. The distal portion of the catheter has one or more apertures in fluid communication with the lumen and one or more radiopaque markers on the distal-most section. The device includes a self-expanding filter coupled to a side of the catheter and a movable outer sheath surrounding the catheter. The outer sheath holds the filter in a collapsed configuration when surrounding the filter. The outer sheath is proximally retracted to deploy the filter. A method of capturing embolic debris includes inserting a guidewire into a body lumen, tracking the device over the guidewire, retracting the guidewire, positioning the device using the radiopaque marker, retracting the outer sheath and deploying the filter, performing a procedure, and advancing the outer sheath to recapture the filter. |