Embolic protection devices having short landing zones

A method for removing emboli from a blood vessel in a patient's body comprising:

• providing an embolic protection device comprising:
• an elongate host element;
• an embolic protection element having a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration;
• and
• a flexible tether connected to a distal end of the host element and to a proximal portion of the embolic protection element, the tether allowing the host element to move axially and laterally relative to the embolic protection element over a limited range of motion when the embolic protection element is in an expanded configuration, and
• the embolic protection device having a landing zone of 4 cm or less;
• and
• introducing the embolic protection device into a vessel in the patient's body.