Patent ID: 7811314

Claim:
A method of reducing thrombus formation in a vessel of a vasculature comprising: providing an apparatus having a tubular expandable member and a membrane, the tubular expandable member having inner and outer surfaces and proximal and distal ends, the membrane being disposed about the tubular member, the membrane including a plurality of pores, the pores having a minimum width to promote endothelial cell ingrowth and a maximum width to prevent release of a predetermined size of emboli; coupling the tubular member to a delivery system; advancing the tubular member in a collapsed delivery configuration within the vessel; and deploying the apparatus from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration in which the apparatus engages a wall of the vasculature at a treatment site, the membrane providing a smooth surface for fluid flow, promoting endothelial cell ingrowth, and preventing release of the predetermined size of emboli.