Patent ID: 8002790

Claim:
An embolic protection device comprising: a collapsible filter element for delivery through a vascular system of a patient; the filter element comprising a collapsible filter body and a filter support for the filter body; the filter body having an inlet end and an outlet end, the inlet end of the filter body having one or more inlet openings sized to allow blood and embolic material enter the filter body, the outlet end of the filter body having a plurality of outlet openings sized to allow through passage of blood but to retain undesired embolic material within the filter body; the filter support being movable between a collapsed position for movement through the vascular system, and an extended outwardly projecting position to support the filter body in an expanded position; the filter support comprising a filter carrier, at least one tether, and a support frame defined by at least two wire segments having terminations; the tether connecting the support frame to the filter carrier; the tether having a higher flexibility than the support frame; the filter support comprising a proximal end and a distal end; the tether comprising a proximal end and a distal end; the proximal end of the filter support is fixed to the filter carrier and the distal end of the tether is fixed to the filter carrier; the two wire segments comprise two distinct wires; and the two wires extend together distally radially outwardly in a first support leg from the filter carrier to a first termination.