Methods for providing embolic protection

Abstract

Methods for providing embolic protection include embolic protection devices having magnets for deploying embolic protection devices, coupling embolic protection devices together, and/or retrieving embolic protection devices.

1 . A method for providing embolic protection comprising:
 delivering a first embolic protection device into a first blood vessel in a radially compressed configuration, the first embolic protection device including a first filter, a first tether, and a first magnet coupled to the first tether;   delivering a second embolic protection device into a second blood vessel adjacent the first blood vessel, the second embolic protection device including a second filter, a second tether, and a second magnet coupled to the second tether;   radially expanding the first embolic protection device and the second embolic protection device; and   magnetically coupling the first magnet and the second magnet.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first blood vessel and the second blood vessel each branch from a third blood vessel, and wherein magnetically coupling the first magnet and the second magnet comprises magnetically coupling the first magnet and the second magnet in the third blood vessel. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein magnetically coupling the first magnet and the second magnet comprises magnetically coupling the first magnet and the second magnet in the first blood vessel or the second blood vessel. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 delivering a third embolic protection device into a third blood vessel in a radially compressed configuration, the third embolic protection device including a third filter and a third magnet coupled to the third filter; and   magnetically coupling the third magnet to the first magnet and/or the second magnet.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 ,
 wherein delivering the first embolic protection device into the first blood vessel comprises delivering the first embolic protection device into a brachiocephalic artery of a patient; and   wherein delivering the second embolic protection device into the second blood vessel comprises delivering the second embolic protection device into a left common carotid artery of the patient.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein magnetically coupling the first magnet and the second magnet comprises magnetically coupling the first magnet and the second magnet in an aorta of the patient. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein magnetically coupling the first magnet and the second magnet comprises magnetically coupling the first magnet and the second magnet in the brachiocephalic artery or the left common carotid artery of the patient. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 delivering a third embolic protection device into am aorta of the patient in a radially compressed configuration, the third embolic protection device including a third filter and a third magnet coupled to the third filter; and   magnetically coupling the third magnet to the first magnet and/or the second magnet.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein magnetically coupling the first magnet and the second magnet comprises magnetically coupled the first magnet to a third magnet coupled to a third tether and magnetically coupling the second magnet to a fourth magnet coupled to the third tether such that the third tether extends between the first tether and the second tether. 
     
     
         10 . A method for providing embolic protection comprising:
 delivering an embolic protection device in radially compressed configuration to a location in a blood vessel, the embolic protection device being maintained in the radially compressed configuration by a sheath extending over the embolic protection device;   retracting a sheath such that a filter portion of the embodiment protection device is not covered by the sheath, wherein a plurality of magnets on the embolic protection device cause the embolic protection device to radially expand from the radially compressed configuration to a radially expanded configuration upon retraction of the sheath.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the embolic protection device includes a shaft having a distal portion, a first magnet of the plurality of magnets is fixedly coupled to the distal portion of the shaft such that the first magnet does not slide relative to the shaft, a second magnet of the plurality of magnets is slidingly coupled to the shaft proximal to the first magnet, and a filter including a distal portion coupled to the first magnet and a proximal portion coupled to the second magnet; and   retracting the sheath causes the second magnet to slide along the shaft toward the first magnet due to being magnetically attracted to the first magnet to radially expand the filter.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the embolic protection device includes a shaft having a distal portion, a first magnet of the plurality of magnets is fixedly coupled to the distal portion of the shaft such that the first magnet does not slide relative to the shaft, a second magnet of the plurality of magnets is slidingly coupled to the shaft proximal to the first magnet, a third magnet disposed between the first magnet and the second magnet, and a filter including a distal portion coupled to the first magnet and a proximal portion coupled to the second magnet; and   retracting the sheath causes the second magnet to slide towards the third magnet and the third magnet to slide towards the first magnet to radially expand the filter.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 after radially expanding the filter, advancing a shaft including a retrieval magnet towards the embolic protection device such that the retrieval magnet overcomes the attraction force between the first magnet and the second magnet such that the second magnet moves away from the first magnet to radially compress the embolic protection device.