LOW PROFILE EMBOLIC PROTECTION DEVICE AND SYSTEM

1 . An embolic protection system for deploying a device in a diseased vessel of a vasculature, the embolic protection system comprising:

an embolic protection device including:

a catheter shaft;

an expandable filter provided at a distal end of the catheter shaft, the expandable filter including a side port provided in a side wall of the expandable filter; and

a filter actuator located at or towards a proximal end of the embolic protection device, the filter actuator operable to open and close a mouth of the expandable filter.

2 . The embolic protection system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a dilator.

3 . The embolic protection system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a loading tool.

4 . The embolic protection system of claim 1 , further comprising:

an introducer.

5 . The embolic protection system of claim 4 , further comprising:

an introducer hub adapter.

6 . The embolic protection system of claim 4 , wherein:

the introducer is an expandable introducer

7 . A method of deploying an embolic protection device into a vasculature of a patient, the method comprising:

establishing access to the vasculature;

introducing a guide wire into the vasculature to assist with guidance of the embolic protection device through the vasculature;

advancing the embolic protection device into the vasculature and over the guide wire toward a target treatment region, wherein the embolic protection device comprises a catheter shaft, an expandable filter disposed at a distal end of the catheter shaft wherein the expandable filter includes a side port provided in a side wall of the expandable filter, and a filter actuator disposed adjacent a proximal end of the catheter shaft, wherein the filter actuator is operable to open and close a mouth of the expandable filter;

actuating the filter actuator thereby radially expanding the expandable filter at the target treatment region and opening the mouth of the expandable filter; and

capturing emboli in the expandable filter.

8 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising inserting a therapeutic device through the embolic protection device and advancing the therapeutic device toward the target treatment region.

9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the target treatment region comprises a native aortic valve.

10 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising, after inserting the therapeutic device through the embolic protection device, closing the expandable filter and withdrawing the embolic protection device from the vasculature.

11 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising introducing a snare guide wire into the vasculature to assist with guidance of a guide wire or a device through the side port of the embolic protection device.