Catheter guidance through a calcified aortic valve

Abstract

A method of treating a patient with a calcified aortic valve includes introducing a guide wire into a blood vessel. The guide wire is advanced through the aorta to the aortic valve and then through the aortic valve. A balloon dilatation catheter is introduced into the blood vessel over the guide wire. The balloon dilatation catheter includes an elongate body, a distal portion, a guide wire lumen, an inflation lumen, and a dilatation balloon. The balloon dilatation catheter further includes at least one deflection wire lumen, and at least one deflection wire residing in the at least one deflection wire lumen and having a distal end attached to the distal portion. The balloon dilatation catheter is advanced over the guide wire through the aorta, through the aortic valve, and the dilatation balloon is inflated.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method of treating a patient with a calcified aortic valve, the method comprising:
 introducing a guide wire into a blood vessel;   advancing the guide wire through the aorta to the aortic valve;   advancing the guide wire through the aortic valve;   introducing a balloon dilatation catheter into the blood vessel over the guide wire, the balloon dilatation catheter comprising an elongate body, a distal portion, a guide wire lumen, a dilatation balloon, a first inflation lumen for inflating the dilatation balloon; at least one displacement balloon located on or near the distal portion, and a second inflation lumen for inflating the at least one displacement balloon;   advancing the balloon dilatation catheter over the guide wire through the aorta;   inflating the at least one displacement balloon;   advancing the balloon dilatation catheter through the aortic valve; and   inflating the dilatation balloon.   
     
     
         3 . The method of treating a patient of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one displacement balloon comprises a plurality of deflection balloons spaced approximately evenly around the periphery of the catheter. 
     
     
         4 . The method of treating a patient of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one displacement balloon is an annular balloon. 
     
     
         5 . The method of treating a patient of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one displacement balloon comprises a plurality of deflection balloons spaced approximately evenly around the periphery of the catheter.