Abstract: An inner support structure for an embolic filtering device includes a tubular member having a first support region for supporting the proximal portion of a filter assembly and a second support region for supporting the distal portion of the filter assembly. The inner support structure facilitates rotation and restricts longitudinal movement of the embolic filtering device relative to a guide wire. Alternatively, the inner support structure includes a bushing coupled to the guide wire and a sleeve with a head on its proximal end positioned within a cavity in the bushing, thereby facilitating rotation and restricting longitudinal movement of the sleeve. The proximal portion of the filter assembly is supported on the sleeve. A sleeve for retaining the struts of an expandable cage of the embolic filtering device includes a central lumen for positioning the sleeve onto a guide wire and peripheral lumens for positioning and retaining the struts.

Abstract: An expandable frame for an embolic filtering device used to capture embolic debris in a body vessel includes a first half frame having a first control arm connected to a second control arm by a partial loop and a second half frame having a first control arm connected to a second control arm by a partial loop. The partial loops cooperatively form a composite loop for attachment of a filtering element which will expand in the body vessel to capture embolic debris entrained in the fluid of the vessel. The lengths and positioning of the first and second control arms of each half frame can be varied to create an expandable frame which conforms to the size and shape of the body vessel in which the filtering device is deployed. Additionally, the radius of the partial loops, along with the length of the arc of the partial loops, can be varied on each of the frames to create a composite filtering assembly that can easily adapt to the size and shape of the body vessel.