A distal protection and delivery system is used to collect and remove embolic debris in the blood vessel. The system includes a guidewire, a filter assembly, and a distal introducer. The distal introducer can be positioned on a distal end of an introducer catheter or an angioplasty catheter or other interventional catheter. The guidewire has a small ferrule or locking mechanism fixed to it that does not affect the flexibility, torqueability, or trackability in comparison to standard guidewires. The introducer containing the filter assembly is advanced over the guidewire to a site distal to the lesion. Upon retraction of the guidewire proximally, the ferrule latches with an ejector latch of the filter assembly. Either advancement of the guidewire distally or retraction of the distal introducer proximally allows the filter assembly to be ejected from the distal introducer and into the blood vessel.