Patent ID: 7879062

Claim:
A medical device comprising: a fiber support structure; at least about 50 biocompatible fibers having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the fibers is constrained to the fiber support structure to form a bundle of non-woven fibers; a wire connected to the fiber support structure to fix the first end of the fibers relative to the wire; and a hypotube comprising a distal end, a proximal end and a central lumen wherein the wire extends through the central lumen of the hypotube, wherein the bundle of non-woven fibers has a first configuration in which the fibers are confined within a narrow profile configuration and are all substantially aligned with each other and a second configuration in which the unconstrained portion of the fibers flares with respect to the narrow profile to form a porous filter matrix, wherein the flared fibers define a plurality of pores that are sized to trap emboli with sizes from about 50 microns to about 200 microns, wherein the relative position of the wire and the hypotube controls transition of the bundle of fibers between the first configuration and the second configuration, and wherein the bundle of fibers is a non-self extendable structure.