Embolic protection basket apparatus

An aortic embolic filter apparatus, comprising:

• a) an elongated catheter having a length, proximal and distal end portions and a catheter lumen with a catheter central, longitudinal axis;
• b) a catheter hub mounted on the catheter;
• c) a tip hub spaced distally of the catheter hub;
• d) a filter basket attached to the hubs and positioned distally of the catheter hub and proximally of the tip hub;
• e) the filter basket including multiple filter supports that each span from the catheter hub to the tip hub;
• f) a filter material that is supported by the filter supports;
• g) the filter basket having concave and convex surfaces, first and second edge portions, and a filter basket opening that spans most of the distance between the hubs and in between the filter material first and second edge portions;
• h) one of the supports being a movable support that is longitudinally movable relative to the catheter hub wherein the movable support slides relative to the catheter hub;
• and
• i) an operator that enables the movable support to change length between the hubs to put more or less of a curvature to the filter basket.

An aortic embolic filter apparatus, comprising:

• a) an elongated catheter having a length, proximal and distal end portions and a catheter lumen with a catheter central, longitudinal axis;
• b) a catheter hub mounted on the catheter, the catheter hub having an opening;
• c) a tip hub spaced distally of the catheter hub the tip hub having an opening;
• d) a guidewire that occupies the openings of the hubs;
• e) a filter basket attached to the hubs and positioned distally of the catheter hub and proximally of the tip hub;
• f) the filter basket including a supporting structure that spans from the catheter hub to the tip hub;
• g) a filter material that is supported by the supporting structure;
• h) the filter basket having concave and convex surfaces, first and second edge portions, and a filter basket opening that spans most of the distance between the hubs and in between the filter material first and second edge portions;
• i) a movable support that affixed to the tip hub and that is longitudinally movable relative to the catheter hub wherein the movable support slides relative to the catheter hub;
• and
• j) an operator that enables the movable support to change length between the hubs to thus change the shape of the filter basket.