Patent ID: 7169171

Claim:
A system for performing a medical treatment in a blood vessel while providing downstream microcirculatory system protection, said system comprising: a catheter having a longitudinal axis, a distal end, an outer lateral surface, a central blood bypass flow lumen extending along the longitudinal axis and opening at said distal end, blood flow inlet and outlet openings extending from said lateral surface and communicating with said bypass flow lumen, and first and second inflation lumens extending to said lateral surface at respective first and second locations that are spaced apart along the longitudinal axis and that are between said inlet openings and said outlet openings; and first and second inflatable members secured to said lateral surface and each having an interior that communicates with only a respective one of said first and second inflation lumens, wherein said catheter has a thin outer wall with a thickness of about 0.127 mm, enclosing a hollow interior that is completely occupied by said bypass flow lumen, except for the space occupied by said first and second inflation lumens.