with reference to fig1 percutaneous angioplasty or stent placement techniques enable operators to minimize trauma often associated with more invasive surgical techniques . this is possible through the use of a thin catheter 20 that advances through the vascular system to a predetermined blood vessel 22 having a lesion such as a stenosis 24 blocking the flow of blood therethrough . typically , the catheter includes a lesion treatment device such as a balloon 26 or stent ( not shown ) for positioning coaxially within the lesion . once positioned , the balloon or stent radially expands , as shown at 28 , to exert a radially outwardly directed force against the material and initiate dilation thereof . in order to reach the lesioned area , however , the catheter must be able to follow a trackable path defined by a catheter guide wire . in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention , a catheter guide wire , generally designated 30 , provides a trackable path for a catheter and includes a distally disposed collapsible filter 50 to trap particulate matter dislodged by the catheter 20 during treatment of the stenosis . referring now to fig2 through 5 , the guide wire 30 includes a proximal section 32 comprising a solid core wire 34 having a wave - shaped proximal end 36 ( fig2 ). a tubular shaft 38 is coaxially disposed around the core wire and includes an outer diameter equal to the nominal size of the guide wire . the inner diameter of the tube is sized to form a friction fit with the core wire proximal end when slid thereover during insertion and removal of the guide wire . the shaft functions to deploy and retract the filter device , and to guide and support the catheter 20 , and to smoothly transmit rotation from the proximal section 32 to an intermediate section 40 . preferably , the shaft comprises a polyimide tube or hypotube . in some applications , where relatively long lengths are required , an extension ( not shown ) may be attached to the proximal section to increase the length up to three meters . the intermediate section 40 extends axially from the proximal section 32 and generally comprises an extension of the shaft 38 to coaxially surround the core wire 34 . the core wire is formed distally with a primary tapered portion 42 defining an annular shoulder 44 for mounting a coiled spring 46 . with further reference to fig2 through 5 , the filter 50 comprises a braided basket 52 having respective inner and outer braid layers 54 and 56 ( fig5 ) that , in one embodiment , serve as supports for a fine filter mesh 58 . the supports expand the basket radially outwardly with the filter axial ends compressed inwardly , and radially retract the basket with the ends tensioned outwardly . the fine mesh 58 ( fig5 ) is interposed between the inner and outer supports along a distal - half portion 60 of the basket to prevent particulate matter from flowing through the blood vessel downstream of the treated stenosis . it is contemplated that the size of the pores of mesh 58 may be in the range of 40 to 500 microns . the meshed distal - half of the filter forms a collection cavity 62 for the material such that when retracted , the material is prevented from escaping the filter . the proximal end of the filter basket is bonded ( e . g . adhesively or by soldering ) to the shaft 38 which may be inserted between braid layers 54 and 56 . the distal extremity 57 of basket abuts a flexible coil spring 66 that coaxially surrounds the tip of the core wire 34 . the guide wire distal tip is tapered and terminates in a hemispherically shaped tip 72 which is also bonded ( e . g . by soldering ) to the tip . the guide wire distal tip may be pre - formed into a “ j ” configuration ( not shown ) to aid in advancing the guide wire 30 through the vasculature . with particular reference to fig6 the preferred embodiment of filter 50 according to the present invention includes a braid comprising a composite metallic / polymeric material , eliminating the necessity of a separate mesh layer . in such an embodiment , a plurality of metallic filaments 82 provide structural support to the assembly for deploying and collapsing the filter . polymeric filaments 84 are located on the distal half of the braid only , to provide a filtration cone 86 . the dual materials , braided simultaneously , provide a pic density which will result in filtration spacing of approximately 40 to 500 microns for filtration , at a metal to polymeric ratio of approximately 1 : 4 . in yet another embodiment of a filter according to the present invention , generally designated 90 and illustrated in fig7 the filtering medium is wrapped in a cylinder 92 with a closed distal end 94 and a flared proximal end 95 . flaring of the proximal end may be effected by applying heat and pressure to the material thereby increasing the surface area and causing the material to bow radially outwardly . the cylinder is formed with longitudinal pleats ( not shown ) that are more flexible and collapsible than a straight cone configuration . referring now to fig8 and 9 , fabrication of the filter 50 may be performed in accordance with a series of process steps as described below . initially , a mandrel 96 ( fig8 ) with a series of molded forms 97 and 98 is prepared by selecting a mandrel of appropriate length , at step 100 ( fig9 ), and providing a plurality of crimps 101 ( fig8 ) on the mandrel at intervals of approximately two to three inches , at step 102 . the process proceeds by placing molds over the crimps , at step 104 , filling the molds with a dissolvable compound , at step 106 , curing the compound , at step 108 , and removing the molds , at step 110 . suitable materials for molding include water soluble plastics such as polyethylene oxide , chemical soluble plastics such as styrene or pvc , and other water soluble materials such as sugar cubes , or gypsum based compounds . molded forms may be continuously fabricated along the length of the crimped mandrel sections to maximize production efficiency . another suitable method envisioned is to individually form the molds and bond to straight mandrels . referring now to fig1 and 11 a - g , following preparation of the mandrel 96 , the mandrel itself is selected for the method of fabricating the filters , at step 112 . the method progresses by selecting a braider , at step 114 , and braiding the inner layer 54 ( fig1 a ), at step 116 , over the mandrel form system . because of the convenient serially connected system of forms on the mandrel , the braider progressively weaves a continuous layer of braid over the consecutively connected forms . after the braid is applied , the mandrel is removed from the braider , at step 118 , so that a curable epoxy may be applied to define an adhesive joint 119 ( fig1 b ) along spaced apart sections of the braid between forms . this step bonds braid filaments together , at step 120 , so that subsequent separation of the forms minimizes deformation of the braid . a center section 121 ( fig1 c ) of each braid is then cut , at step 122 , and a prefabricated filter 123 ( fig1 d ) installed over one side of each form , at step 124 . the individual segments are then reconnected , at step 126 , by splicing a section of heat shrink tubing 127 ( fig1 e ) over each severed joint . after the segments are re - connected , the mandrel assembly is then re - installed into the braider for braiding of the outer basket 56 ( fig1 f ), at step 128 . following braiding , the mandrel is removed from the braider , at step 130 , with the braid filaments bonded together to form a joint 131 ( fig1 g ), at step 132 . the mandrel is then cut at approximately one millimeter on the outside end of the adhesive , at step 134 . at this point , the molded form may be dissolved by an appropriate solvent , at step 136 , and the mandrel removed , at step 138 . lastly , a polyimide sleeve is bonded , at step 140 , to the end opposite the filter . the alternative filter embodiment 80 may be fabricated similar to the procedure above with only minor variations . conveniently , because of the composite nature and relatively high pic density of the metallic / polymeric braid , only one braiding step is required . after the final braid , the polymeric strands at the proximal end are mechanically or thermally cut away , and the filaments fused at the large diameter of the formed cone to form the collection cavity and to allow for greater blood flow . in operation , the guide wire 30 may be advanced through a vascular system in any conventional manner to establish a path for the catheter to track over . generally , as shown in fig1 the guide wire is inserted through the lesion and disposed downstream of the lesion 24 a variably selected distance . the distance selected by the operator may be conveniently adjusted merely by further advancing or slightly withdrawing the guide wire . this provides the highly desirable capability of enabling the operator to independently adjust the selected distance to preclude the possibility of embolic material progressing through a branch path between the lesion and the filter . the catheter 20 is then inserted along the guide wire to access the treatment area . typically , image scanning techniques aid in the exact positioning of the catheter relative to the lesion such that the lesion treatment device will have maximum effectiveness . the filter may then be deployed by actuating an actuating mechanism ( not shown ) coupled to the core wire 34 for axially moving the shaft 38 relative to the core wire . as the shaft advances axially along the core wire in the distal direction , the filter basket 52 , having its distal end 57 attached to the fixed core wire and its proximal end connected to the shaft , compresses axially and expands radially outwardly against the inner walls of the blood vessel . in its expanded state , the filter 50 collects any plaque that may have loosened and become dislodged from the treated area . once the treatment concludes , and the catheter is withdrawn from the body , the filter is retracted radially inwardly by shifting the shaft back to its original position . as the filter retracts , the collection cavity 62 traps any material strained against the filter layer . the guide wire itself is then carefully withdrawn from the vasculature . referring now to fig1 through 16 , a temporary filter guide wire according to a further embodiment of the present invention is shown , and generally designated 200 . the guide wire generally includes a proximal end 202 having an actuating mechanism 208 , an intermediate portion 220 including a housed collapsible filter element 222 , and a flexible distal end 240 . with particular reference to fig1 , the proximal end 202 includes a solid stainless steel core wire 204 having a diameter , for example , of approximately 0 . 0075 inches and slidably confined coaxially by an elongated shaft 206 . the shaft may include , for example , an inner diameter of approximately 0 . 010 inches and an outer diameter of approximately 0 . 014 inches . the proximal tip of the core wire nests within the handle mechanism 208 that includes a rotatable handle element 209 having a formed central blind bore 210 and a threaded hollow shank 212 . a fixed threaded base 214 having a throughbore 216 receives the proximal portion of the shaft 206 and rotatably engages the handle element to define the actuating mechanism . referring now to fig1 and 13 , the core wire 204 and the shaft 206 extend longitudinally to define the intermediate portion 220 of the guide wire . the filter element 222 is mounted to the intermediate portion and includes an intermediate quad filar spring 224 of approximately 0 . 002 inch diameter wire that extends approximately three to seven centimeters from the end of the shaft , depending on the application . the respective ends of four wires comprising the quad spring are unwound , straightened , and outwardly biased approximately forty - five degrees from the spring axis at spaced apart radial locations to define a plurality of umbrella shaped filter struts 226 . these struts form the support structure for the filter . as shown in fig1 , 15 , and 16 , the strut spacing may conveniently take on a variety of configurations depending on the particular application desired . lashed to the struts is a fine wire mesh 228 of approximately 0 . 001 inches thick within 40 to 500 micron pores for straining particulate matter from the bloodstream . further referring to fig1 , the radial exterior of the distal portion of the core wire 204 carries a bonded housing or pod 230 having an axially open mouth 232 slightly larger in diameter than the diameter of the filter in a closed configuration . the mouth opens into a cavity sufficiently sized to fully enclose the filter during insertion or withdrawal of the guide wire . the pod would also have a rounded inward edge at its proximal opening so as to envelop the filter when retracted and prevent unintentional engagement of a stent or catheter upon withdrawal . the pod may be fabricated out of a spring material wound in the opposing direction as the spiral struts to improve the sliding of the two surfaces . other options include a lubricious plastic such as polyethylene . the distal end 240 of the guide wire 200 comprises an extension of the core wire 204 from a bonded distal joint and surrounded by a distal spring member 242 that bonds to and projects outwardly from the distal side of the filter housing 230 . the distal end terminates in a tip 244 that typically takes on a pre - formed “ j ” shape ( not shown ) for steering purposes through the vascular system . operation of the second embodiment proceeds in much the same way as that of the first embodiment , with the guide wire 200 first directed through the vasculature , followed by tracking with a treating catheter . like the first embodiment , the guide wire 200 is advantageously adjustable in the blood vessel independent of the catheter , allowing a variable selected distance between the location of the stenosis and the filter . however , the way in which the filter 222 expands and retracts differs somewhat from the previously described embodiment . with the handle mechanism 208 in a normally open configuration , the operator turns the rotatable element 209 to incrementally drive the core wire 104 axially with respect to the shaft 206 . the relative axial displacement of the core wire causes the filter housing 230 to become disengaged from the filter struts 226 . because of the spring biased nature of the filter struts 226 , as the filter exits the housing , the struts expand radially outwardly against the blood vessel wall such that the wire mesh spans the vessel diameter . in its extended state , the filter allows bloodflow to continue through the vessel while dislodged material becomes entrapped in the wire mesh for collection in the cavity . once the lesion treatment procedure is complete , and the necessity for filtering has completely diminished , the handle mechanism is actuated to pull the core wire back to its original position . this activity causes the housing mouth to re - engage the filter struts and urge the struts radially inwardly as the housing encloses the filter . with the filter fully retracted , the streamlined guide wire may be easily and safely withdrawn from the body . those skilled in the art will appreciate the many benefits and advantages afforded the present invention . of relative importance is the feature that avoids any additional control wires , beyond the guide wire itself , in order to expand and retract the filter . not only does this minimize the number of components necessary to practice the invention , but the angioplasty procedure itself is made safer for the patient . additionally , the present invention provides the capability of adjusting the distance between the filter and the catheter lesion treatment device in vivo , eliminating the need to withdraw the guide wire or catheter for distance adjustment should the relative spacing be inadequate . the filter itself , in one embodiment , provides substantial manufacturability benefits by requiring only a single braiding step . consequently , braiding additional filter layers adding to the device &# 39 ; s complexity are eliminated . by minimizing the process steps required to fabricate the filter , costs involved in manufacture are greatly reduced . moreover , the method of fabricating filters according to the present invention offers added efficiencies in manufacture due to the production line processing scheme . employing such a scheme serves to dramatically improve the throughput rate of filters to minimize overall costs . while the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof , it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention . for example , the invention may be used in any intravascular treatment utilizing a guide wire where the possibility of loosening emboli may occur . although the description herein illustrates angioplasty and stent placement procedures as significant applications , it should be understood that the present invention is in no way limited only to those environments .