A removable, low profile, vascular filter system for capture and retrieval of
emboli
while allowing continuous perfusion of blood, comprising a guidewire having proximal
and distal markers, a filter delivery and deployment system, having an outer member
and an inner member, and a filter removably attached near the distal end of the
inner member. The filter comprises proximal and distal basket sleeves which position
the filter between the proximal and distal markers on the guidewire, after the
guidewire is in position past the vessel occlusion. The guidewire placement prior
to filter delivery may facilitate access to the interventional site, especially
through tortuous anatomy. Also, retrievability of the filter from the wire may
avoid loss of guidewire position, which may occur following removal of filters
permanently attached to guidewires.