Patent ID: 7618432
Filing Date: 2009-11-17
Classification: A61B,A61F,A61M

Abstract:
1. A method of performing aortic valvuloplasty comprising: providing a catheter having a balloon; advancing said catheter towards an aortic valve; expanding a first region of said balloon to a first maximum inflated diameter so as to contact a patient's ventricular outflow tract to reduce downstream migration of said balloon; expanding a second region of said balloon to a second maximum inflated diameter so as to hyperextend a patient's valve leaflets against an aortic sinus; and, expanding a third region of said balloon to a third maximum inflated diameter that is smaller than said first and second maximum inflation diameter and substantially equal to a diameter of a patient's valve annulus so as to prevent dissection of said annulus; wherein said third region is located between said first region and said second region.