Patent ID: 8444669

Claim:
A filter delivery system comprising: an elongated member having a distal end and a proximal end; a filter having a first portion and a second portion disposed axially with respect to the elongated member and near the distal end of the member wherein a first portion of the filter is mechanically biased toward a radially expanded position and a second portion of the filter is less strongly biased toward a radially expanded position; a restraint member having at least one axial gap, a first portion, a second portion, a restraint configuration, and a deployed configuration, wherein the first and second portion of the restraint member are disposed about the first and second portions of the filter, respectively, further wherein the first portion of the restraint member exerts a greater restraint force on the filter in the restraint configuration than the restraint force exerted on the filter by the second portion of the restraint member in the restraint configuration; and an actuation member which interacts with the restraint member in the restraint configuration and is substantially free of interaction with the restraint member in the deployed configuration.