Recovery system for retrieving an embolic protection device

The present invention relates generally to a system which can be used when an interventional procedure is being performed in a stenosed or occluded region of a blood vessel to capture embolic material that may be created and released into the bloodstream during the procedure. The system of the present invention is particularly useful when performing balloon angioplasty, stenting procedures, laser angioplasty or atherectomy in critical vessels, such as the carotid arteries, where the release of embolic debris into the bloodstream can occlude the flow of oxygenated blood to the brain or other vital organ. It is to be understood that the system and method of this invention can be used in numerous other vascular interventional procedures. A system for recovering an embolic protection device having an expandable filter disposed on a guide wire includes an inner catheter loaded inside a recovery sheath. The inner catheter has a distal portion which extends beyond the distal end of the recovery sheath when the recovery system is being advanced over the guide wire of the embolic protection device. The inner catheter has more flexibility than the recovery sheath, and enhances delivery through tortuous anatomy to the location of the deployed filter. Once the recovery system is advanced in close proximity to the expandable filter of the embolic protection device, the recovery sheath is advanced over distal portion of the inner catheter and over the expandable filter to collapse the filter for removal from the body vessel. The recovery sheath has sufficient column strength to collapse the expanded filter for removal from the body vessel.