EMBOLIC PROTECTION DEVICE HAVING A FILTER FRAME WITH INTEGRAL DISTAL STRAIN RELIEF

摘要

An embolic protection device provides a filter membrane for removing emboli from a fluid flowing in a vessel of a patient. The filter membrane is mounted on a filter frame having an integrated strain relief mechanism that provides strain relief and kink resistance in the transition between the relatively stiff filter and the flexible dista l tip of the guidewire that is used to guide the filter into the treatment area. The stra in relief mechanism is one or more cuts through the distal end of the filter frame. Th e cut patten, pitch and variation of the pitch from one end to the other provides a way of fine-tuning the strain relief to a wide variety of filter frames, guidewires and flexibl e distal guidewire tips.