Adjustable blood filtration system

A method of filtering and aspirating material from a blood vessel during an open surgical procedure on a patient, the method comprising the steps of:

• inserting a filter into the blood vessel, the filter having an adjustable filter frame associated with the distal end of a shaft, the shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen therebetween;
• deploying the adjustable filter within the vessel;
• slideably inserting an aspiration tube through the lumen of the filter shaft until a distal end of the tube exits an opening in the distal end of the filter shaft, the aspiration tube having a proximal end opening adapted to connect to an aspiration source;
• applying a vacuum to the proximal end of the aspiration tube to draw trapped material from the filter into the tube;
• and
• removing the aspiration tube from the filter shaft.