Method for accessing a renal artery

Abstract

An elongated hollow tube guiding catheter forming a portion of a guiding catheter includes a proximal end, distal end, and distal section. The distal section includes a curved section and a straight section. The curved and straight sections are shaped for facilitating introduction and retention of the catheter into the ostium of a renal artery. The system includes a dilator inserted into the catheter hollow tube with a curved distal section of the dilator opposingly extending opposite the curved distal section of the guiding catheter hollow tube. The guiding catheter includes a side arm positioned near the guiding catheter's proximal end with a multi-way stop cock fixedly attached onto a proximal end of the side arm tube.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for placing a distal straight section at the end of a distal curved section of a renal artery guiding catheter into and through the ostium of a renal artery of a patient who is being treated for high blood pressure, the method including the following steps:
 a) placing a guide wire through the femoral artery and into the aorta of the patient that is being treated for high blood pressure;   b) placing a dilator into a renal artery guiding catheter so that a curved distal section of a hollow tube that is located at a distal section of guiding catheter and a curved distal section of the dilator oppose each other so that together the dilator and the guiding catheter form a comparatively straight structure;   c) advancing the dilator and guiding catheter over the guide wire until the distal end of the guiding catheter lies approximately 10±5 cm beyond the ostium of a renal artery;   d) removing the dilator and guide wire from the interior lumen of the guiding catheter hollow tube; and   e) pulling the guiding catheter back down the aorta until the straight section at the distal end of the curved section of the guiding catheter is placed into and through the ostium of a renal artery.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  including the step of orienting a side arm tube placed at the proximal end of the guiding catheter to be approximately parallel to the table onto which the patient is lying on his or her back which orientation causes the straight section at the end of the curved distal section of the guiding catheter to have the optimum azimuth angle around the aorta so as to allow for ready passage of the distal straight section of the guiding catheter to enter through the ostium of the renal artery.