Embolic protection system

Abstract

An assembly for loading a collapsible embolic protection filter 1 into a catheter 2 , comprises a catheter 2 defining a reception space at a distal end of the catheter 2 for receiving a collapsed embolic protection filter 1 ; and a separate removable pushing device 8 for delivering the embolic protection filter 1 into the reception space. The pushing device 8 comprises an elongate stem 71 with a proximal stop 72 for engagement with the filter 1 . A separate loading device 7 to collapse the embolic protection filter 1 is also provided. The loading device 7 defines an inlet end and an outlet end, the outlet end being configured for co-operative alignment with the reception space.

1 . An assembly for loading a collapsible embolic protection filter into a catheter, the assembly comprising:- 
 a catheter defining a reception space at a distal end of the catheter for receiving a collapsed embolic protection filter;    a separate removable pushing device for delivering the medical device into the reception space.    
   
   
       2 - 25 . (canceled)  
   
   
       26 . A method of loading an embolic protection filter into a catheter, the method comprising the steps of:- 
 providing an embolic protection filter, the embolic protection device being collapsible;    providing an embolic protection catheter defining a reception space at a distal end of the catheter for receiving the collapsed embolic protection filter;    providing a pushing device for delivering the embolic protection filter into the reception space;    delivering the embolic protection filter into the reception space using the pushing device; and    removing the pushing device from the reception space.    
   
   
       27 - 35 . (canceled)  
   
   
       36 . A method of loading an embolic protection filter into a catheter, the method comprising the steps of:- 
 providing an embolic protection filter, the embolic protection filter being collapsible;    providing a catheter defining a reception space at a distal end of the catheter for receiving the collapsed embolic protection filter, the catheter comprising at least one internal proximal stop;    providing a loading device to collapse the embolic protection filter, the loading device defining an inlet end and an outlet end;    aligning the outlet end of the loading device with the reception space;    delivering the embolic protection filter through the loading device and into the reception space; and    moving the collapsed embolic protection filter towards its proximal end in the reception space to engage said at least one internal proximal stop and disassociate the loaded catheter from the loading device.    
   
   
       37 - 44 . (canceled)  
   
   
       45 . A removable device for loading a collapsible embolic protection filter into a catheter, the device comprising a distal stop for releasably engaging with the embolic protection filter to push the embolic protection filter towards a proximal end of a catheter thereby loading the embolic protection filter into the catheter.  
   
   
       46 - 56 . (canceled)