Method and assembly for distal embolic protection

Claim 1

A distal embolic protection assembly structured for introduction into a blood vessel, the assembly comprising: a sleeve having a sleeve lumen with a stop latch matching groove; an actuating member having proximal and distal ends, wherein the actuating member is movably disposed within the sleeve lumen; and a filter assembly coupled to the distal end of the actuating member, the filter assembly comprising a porous bag having an open proximal end, a collapsible and expandable frame comprising a stent made of a shape memory alloy coupled to the open proximal end of the bag; wherein the actuating member may be pulled in a proximal direction to compress and retract the frame within the lumen of the sleeve and retain the frame in a collapsed state and wherein the actuating member may be pushed in a distal direction out of the lumen to a deployed expanded state; and further wherein the stent comprises a proximal collapsed end that remains within the sleeve lumen; a stop latch protruding from and biased in a distal direction; the stop latch adapted to mate with the stop latch matching groove when the stent is expanded to a deployed condition; an expanded distal end that is coupled to and supports the open proximal end of the porous bag; and longitudinal arms joining the proximal collapsed end and the expanded distal end, the longitudinal arms being biased to expand radially to a deployed state.