An angioplasty device has a filter associated with it to capture embolic particles that may be broken free during an angioplasty procedure. In one embodiment the embolic filter has a frame in which struts are connected to end rings and to each other by a plurality of interconnected oval members. In another embodiment the device includes an actuator at the proximal end of an actuator wire. By rotating a knob on the device, the physician can smoothly tension the wire by a predetermined amount to prevent the filter from opening too much or too little. Various other embodiments of filter frames are also disclosed.
