A filter device is inserted into the blood vessel of a patient at the end of a catheter-like shaft. The filter device includes a perfusion membrane supported by struts which are disposed distally on the shaft of the device. When actuated from an adapter located outside the patient, the struts deploy into an expanded configuration, bringing the membrane into a configuration to allow blood to pass through the filter device, but trapping embolic matter within the membrane. This embolic material is removed either by aspiration or by collapsing the struts and trapping the embolic matter within the strut system for removal along with the removal of the filter device.
