Embolic protection device

Abstract

Embolic protection devices useful for filtering emboli during interventional cardiac, vascular, or other procedures are described. The device can include first and second expandable mesh filters having open and closed ends. The first filter is attached to a catheter at its closed end. The second filter is attached to a steerable guide wire at its closed end. The second filter includes a cinching wire circumferentially attached to the filter. The filters are deployed in separate vessels, such as the brachiocephalic artery and the left common carotid artery. A procedure is performed, and the filters trap any emboli travelling through the path of the filters. At the end of the procedure, the second filter is closed using the cinching wire, and retracted into the first filter. Both the first and second filters are collapsed into a sheath and removed from the body with along with any emboli trapped in the filters.

1 . A method of providing embolic protection to a patient comprising the steps of:
 delivering a sheath into a first blood vessel of the patient, the sheath housing a first filter in a collapsed condition and a second filter in a collapsed condition;   deploying the first filter in the first blood vessel using a first guide member to transition the first filter to an expanded condition so that blood flows into an open end of the first filter;   deploying the second filter in a second blood vessel using a second guide member to transition the second filter to an uncinched expanded condition so that blood flows into an open end of the second filter;   cinching the open end of the second filter with a cinch wire attached to the open end of the second filter to transition the second filter into a cinched expanded condition in which the open end of the second filter has a reduced diameter compared to the uncinched expanded condition; and   retracting the second guide member to pull the second filter in the cinched expanded condition at least partially into the first filter in the expanded condition.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 retracting the first filter into the sheath while the second filter is at least partially within the first filter.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 removing the first filter from the patient, wherein the second filter remains at least partially within the first filter during the removal of the first filter from the patient.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein during delivery of the sheath, the second filter is at least partially within the first filter. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first filter and the second filter each include a mesh structure. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second filter includes a plurality of struts having free ends extending beyond the open end of the second filter. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein cinching the open end of the second filter causes the free ends of the plurality of struts of the second filter to draw closer to one another in the cinched expanded condition of the second filter. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein during the step of retracting the second guide member, the free ends of the plurality of struts of the second filter guide the second filter into the first filter. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of struts of the second filter maintain the open end of the second filter in a cylindrical shape in the expanded condition of the second filter. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the first filter includes a plurality of struts with free ends extending beyond the open end of the first filter. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein as the second filter is retracted into the first filter, the free ends of the plurality of struts of the first filter are positioned radially outward of the second filter. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein deploying the second filter includes translating the second guide member with respect to the first filter. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the second guide member extends through the first filter. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein cinching the open end of the second filter includes pulling the cinch wire through the sheath. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the cinch wire extends through the first filter. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein, upon pulling the cinch wire, the second filter remains in substantially the same translational position with respect to the first filter. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the second filter has a conical portion adjacent the open end of the second filter. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein, as the cinch wire is pulled to transition the second filter from the uncinched expanded condition to the cinched expanded condition, the conical portion of the second filter retains substantially the same shape. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the reduced diameter of the open end of the second filter inhibits emboli trapped within the second filter from exiting the second filter in the cinched expanded condition of the second filter.