The present invention is a temporary intraluminal filter guidewire for use
during interventional procedures, such as angioplasty or stent
deployment. A braided filter is mounted near the distal end of a
steerable guidewire, which guides a therapeutic catheter. An actuator rod
slides over the guidewire and is removably connected to the filter. The
rod controls relative displacement of the filter ends, causing
transformation of the filter between a deployed configuration and a
collapsed configuration. Wire having enhanced radiopacity is included in
the filter to provide visualization under fluoroscopy.