A torque device (280) for rotating a guide wire (28) and effecting the splitting of a sheath (30) which is co-axially disposed over the guide wire, the torque device comprising: a handle (290) having a lumen extending therethrough for receiving the guide wire； means associated with the handle to hold the guide wire within the lumen of the handle； and a side port (288) adapted to receive the proximal end of the sheath to remove the sheath from the elongate member through proximal retraction of the sheath through the side port. An embolic filter (20) is disposed at the distal end of the guide wire.
