EMBOLIC PROTECTION DEVICE DESIGNED IN PARTICULAR FOR TORTUOUS BLOOD VESSELS, ESPECIALLY CEREBRAL VESSELS

An embolic protection device with a flexible fiber-based filter element is described associated with an integrated guide structure. The integrated guide structure comprises a corewire within a hypotube having an uncut proximal section and a distal section having laser cuts through the hypotube wall. A corewire extends through the hypotube with a low friction channel, which can have a friction reducing coil between the corewire and at least a portion of the hypotube. A torque coupler restricts rotation of the corewire while allowing at least some sliding of the corewire within the hypotube that provides for actuating the filter element and for curving the laser cut hypotube. Torque coupler designs provide connection to the laser cut hypotube. The fiber bundle has an initial undeployed configuration with the fibers aligned and a deployed configuration with the fibers bent.