Patent ID: 7014647

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 to 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 a fully extended outwardly projecting position to support the filter body in an expanded position; the filter support comprising: a support frame, a carrier extending longitudinally through the support frame, and a tether extending between the carrier and the support frame, the tether being fixed adjacent a distal end of the carrier and the support frame being fixed to a proximal end of the carrier, wherein in the fully extended outwardly projecting position the tether has a taut configuration, and in the collapsed position the tether has a slack configuration.