Patent ID: 8052716

Claim:
An embolic protection device, comprising: a guidewire for delivery through a vascular system of a patient; and a filter element associated with the guidewire, the filter element being movable between a collapsed stored position for movement through the vascular system and an expanded position in which the filter element at least partially contacts a wall of a blood vessel such that blood passing through the blood vessel is delivered through the filter element but embolic material in the blood is retained in the filter element; the filter element comprising a membrane with a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end allowing the blood and the embolic material to enter the filter element, and the distal end allowing through passage of the blood but retaining the embolic material within the filter element; the filter element comprising a tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen extending therebetween, the guidewire being disposed within the lumen, wherein a distal portion of the membrane extends beyond the distal end of the tubular member and tapers distally towards the guidewire to form a smooth transition between the filter element and the guidewire, the entire filter element is moveable longitudinally along the guidewire, the guidewire is rotatable and slidable relative to the tubular member and the tubular member is surrounded by the membrane and extends substantially the entire longitudinal length of the filter element.