Abstract: A method of using a balloon catheter to perform a medical procedure at a treatment site in a patient's body lumen and to recover an expanded device, such as an embolic protection device, which is adjacent to the treatment site in the body lumen. The inflated balloon is deflated and regroomed to a low profile configuration in the body lumen, and the balloon catheter is advanced distally from the treatment site to collapse the expanded device (e.g., embolic protection filter) within the balloon catheter. The balloon catheter has a recovery distal tip for collapsing an expanded device, and has a regrooming sheath member configured to slidably receive the deflated balloon therein to regroom the balloon.

Abstract: An embolic protection recovery catheter assembly configured for retrieval of medical devices from vasculature. The catheter includes a distal end portion adapted for effectively retrieving devices. In one aspect, the distal end portion is collapsible and in another aspect it is expandable. In other aspects, the catheter includes sub-structure supporting the distal tip or a tear-away tip configured to aid in the recovery process.

Abstract: A guide wire locking mechanism for a catheter system includes a motion-limiting component adapted to contact a portion of a guide wire and limit the direction of motion that the guide wire can slide therethrough. The motion-limiting component allows the guide wire to slide in one direction when placed in the locking mechanism but prevents the guide wire from moving in the opposite direction. The motion-limiting component can be made from a row of movable teeth having contact surfaces or faces which come in contact with a portion of the guide wire. The teeth are bendable to allow the guide wire to move in one direction but will tighten against the guide wire if one attempts to move the guide wire in an opposite direction. The guide wire locking mechanism can be used with a recovery sheath that can be advanced over the guide wire to collapse an expandable filtering portion mounted on a guide wire.