Patent ID: 7320697

Claim:
An embolic filter assembly, said filter assembly comprising: at least one strand of wire forming a support hoop; the strand of wire extending from said support hoop and forming at least one suspension strut; the suspension strut coupled, at least in part, to a guide wire or a filter wire; and a blood permeable sac having an opening, said opening fixedly attached to the support hoop, thereby forming a proximal opening or mouth of the embolic filter; wherein the at least one suspension strut is at least in part, entwined around said guide wire or said filter wire, thereby forming a helix around the guidewire or filter wire; and wherein the helix is formed by first longitudinally traversing the at least one suspension strut, at least in part, along said guide wire or said filter wire in a distal to proximal direction, and then entwining the at least one suspension strut, at least in part, in the proximal to distal direction.