A distal embolic protection device for dedicated use in cerebral arterial blood vessels is described. The distal embolic protection device comprises a variable-thickness micro-guidewire and a collapsible filtering device mounted on the microguidewire over two mobile attachment points so that in its collapsed configuration, the thickness of the microguidewire and the filtering device at this region is less than or equal to 0.017 inch (0.432 mm) in thickness to be able to pass through existing conventional microcatheters. The mobile attachment points allow for rotatory and longitudinal mobility of the microguidewire while the filtering device is stable thereby decreasing the risk of trauma to the fragile cerebral arterial blood vessels. Preferably, the filtering device comprises an expansion assembly, e.g., a plurality of struts attached to a filter membrane that are in a folded position which self expand to the desired dimensions within the cerebral blood vessels. Also described are methods of using the distal embolic protection devices of this invention.
