Abstract: The invention is a dilation catheter which comprises an elongated catheter shaft, a guide wire tube, and an angioplasty balloon. The distal end of the balloon is attached to the distal portion of the guide wire tube, and the proximal portion of the balloon is attached to the distal portion of the catheter shaft. A stiffening wire is attached to the inner wall of the catheter shaft at a plurality of points along its length. The distal extremity of the guide wire tube is decreased in size relative to the proximal portion of the guide wire tube. A fluid is contained within the guide wire lumen.

Abstract: The present invention is a collapsible blood filter for use during a vascular procedure, such as angioplasty or stent deployment. A filter made of braided filaments is located on the distal end of a delivery member, and the filter is deployed downstream of the vascular treatment site to capture emboli released during and immediately after the procedure. Optimal braid geometry of the filter ensures that captured emboli will be retained during collapse and removal of the filter following the procedure.