A diverting filter (100) for implantation in the bifurcation of the human common carotid artery (CCA) with the external carotid artery (ECA) and the internal carotid artery (ICA), comprising: a tubular body expandable from an initial small-diameter state for manipulation through the CCA to an expanded larger-diameter state for implantation in said bifurcation, the tubular body having an at rest state wherein the tubular body exhibits a diameter greater than the expanded larger-diameter state; the tubular body including a proximal region (120) for implantation in the CCA, a distal region (130) for implantation in the ECA, and a middle filtering region (110) for alignment with the orifice of the ICA for diverting relatively-large emboli in the CCA blood flow to the ECA while minimizing interference to blood flow through both the ICA and the ECA; constituted of between 48 and 56 braided filaments exhibiting an average porosity index of at least 80%.
