Abstract: Advantageous instruments, assemblies and methods are provided for undertaking surgical procedures (e.g., cardiovascular interventional procedures). The present disclosure provides advantageous devices, assemblies and methods in the field of cardiac surgery and interventional cardiology procedures. Advantageous protection assemblies/devices (e.g., aortic arch embolic protection assemblies/devices) and related methods of use are provided. The present disclosure relates generally to embolic protection devices for use in the aortic arch to protect the distal vasculature during cardiac surgery and interventional cardiology procedures. An exemplary embolic protection device can take the form of an expandable/inflatable bladder member in a curved tube shape. The present disclosure provides advantageous (embolic) protection devices/assemblies, systems incorporating such devices/assemblies, and methods of use of such devices/assemblies for the benefit of such surgical practitioners and their patients.