Patent ID: 7371249

Claim:
A filter guidewire for capturing embolic material generated during treatment of a lesion in a vessel of a patient, the filter guidewire comprising: an elongate core wire having proximal and distal ends; an elongate tubular shaft slidably disposed along the core wire, the shaft including an elongate proximal portion and a short distal portion, the distal portion being more flexible than the proximal portion; a generally tubular filter mounted coaxially about the core wire, the filter having a distal end fixed to the core wire distal end and a proximal end fixed to the shaft distal portion, wherein relative displacement of the filter ends associated with longitudinal displacement between the tubular shaft and the core wire causes transformation of the filter between a collapsed configuration and a deployed configuration; and a transition sleeve fixed about the core wire distal end, the sleeve being slidably disposed within the shaft distal portion and extending distally there from.