Distal protection devices having controllable wire motion

1. A distal protection device for use in a body lumen comprising:

a first elongate member having distal and proximal ends;

a second elongate member having distal and proximal ends; and

a functional element carried by the second elongate member, the functional element being expandable from a delivery configuration to an expanded deployed configuration when the functional element is deployed in the body lumen,

the first elongate member having a tubular body having a lumen with an interior diameter and the second elongate member having a first region with an exterior diameter less than the interior diameter of the lumen of the tubular body, the first region being slideably received in the lumen of the tubular body,

the first and second elongate members being moveable over a range of motion from a first relative position to a second relative position such that when the functional element is deployed in the body lumen the first elongate member may be moved without resulting in corresponding movement of the functional element, the distal end of the second elongate member being distal to the distal end of the first elongate member over the entire range of motion,

the second elongate member having enlarged portions adjacent proximal and distal ends of the first region, the enlarged portions having exterior diameters larger than the interior diameter of the lumen of the tubular body,

wherein the first elongate member has an exterior diameter, and the exterior diameter of the first elongate member and the exterior diameters of the enlarged portions of the second elongate member are approximately equal.

2. The distal protection device of claim 1 wherein the functional element comprises a filter having a body defining a proximally facing opening when in the expanded deployed configuration.

3. The distal protection device of claim 1 wherein the functional element comprises a filter.

4. The distal protection device of claim 1 wherein the functional element comprises an occlusive element.

5. The distal protection device of claim 1 wherein the functional element comprises an inflatable balloon.

6. The distal protection device of claim 1 wherein at the first relative position a first surface of the first elongate member abuts against a first surface of the second elongate member.

7. The distal protection device of claim 1 further comprising brake elements at the distal and proximal ends of the first elongate member.

8. The distal protection device of claim 7 wherein the brake elements comprise a spring.

9. The distal protection device of claim 7 wherein the brake elements comprise an elastomer.

10. The distal protection device of claim 7 wherein the brake elements comprise a magnet.

11. The distal protection device of claim 1 further comprising a locking element for locking the first elongate member to the second elongate member, the locking element having a locked position where the relative positions of the first and second elongate members are locked and an unlocked position where the first elongate member can be moved over the range of motion from the first relative position to the second relative position without resulting in movement of the second elongate member.

12. The distal protection device of claim 1 further comprising a locking element for locking the first elongate member to the second elongate member, the locking element having a locked position where the relative positions of the first and second elongate members are locked and an unlocked position where the first elongate member can be moved over the range of motion from the first relative position to the second relative position without resulting in movement of the second elongate member when the functional element is deployed.

13. The distal protection device of claim 1 further comprising a locking element for locking the first elongate member to the second elongate member, the locking element having a locked position where the relative positions of the first and second elongate members are locked and an unlocked position where the first elongate member can be moved over the range of motion from the first relative position to the second relative position without resulting in movement of the functional element when the functional element is deployed.

14. The distal protection device of claim 1 wherein the tubular body of the first elongate member has a constant diameter.

15. The distal protection device of claim 1 wherein the tubular body of the first elongate member comprises a reduced diameter portion.

16. The distal protection device of claim 11 wherein the locking element comprises a reduced diameter portion of the first elongate member.

17. The distal protection device of claim 16 wherein the reduced diameter portion comprises one or more slits.