Patent ID: 7229463

Claim:
A cardiopulmonary bypass filter system comprising: a housing having distal and proximal ends, the proximal end comprising a connector adapted to connect to at least one hose and the distal end comprising a distal member having first and second openings, wherein the housing comprises a first lumen adapted to be in fluid communication with the at least one hose and one of the first and second openings and a second lumen extending from a port to the other of the first and second openings in the housing distal member; and a vascular filter system comprising a collapsible filter advancable through the housing port, said vascular filter system comprising (a) a filter membrane support structure, and (b) a fitter membrane attached to said filter membrane support structure, said filter membrane having openings, wherein said openings have variable diameters with respect to one another, and wherein the diameter of said openings range from about 20 to about 300 microns, each of the openings defining a substantially circumferential configuration and having additional distinct fibers attached to and extending from the circumference of the openings of the filter membrane to increase embolic capture.