Patent ID: 8333783

Claim:
A method for treating a defect in bifurcated vasculature having a common blood vessel and at least first and second branch blood vessels, said method comprising the steps of: A) providing or obtaining a system that comprises; i) an elongate, flexible catheter having a proximal expandable area, a distal expandable area, an elongate member receiving lumen, and a treatment device outlet opening, said proximal expandable area being self-expandable from an elongated radially collapsed configuration to a large diameter expanded configuration, said distal expandable area being self- expandable from an elongated radially collapsed configuration to a large diameter expanded configuration; and ii) an elongate member having a guidewire lumen extending longitudinally therethrough, said elongate member being is a) insertable into the elongate member receiving lumen, b) advanceable to a distal position whereby it engages a portion of the elongate flexible catheter and causes both the proximal and distal expandable areas to assume elongated radially collapsed configurations and thereafter c) retractable to a proximal position whereby it disengages from the portion of the elongate flexible catheter and allows both the proximal and distal expandable areas to assume non-elongated radially expanded configurations; advancing the catheter over a guidewire which extends through the guidewire lumen of the elongate member, while maintaining the elongate member in the distal position to maintain the proximal and distal expandable areas in their elongated radially collapsed configurations; B) with the elongate member advanced to a position where it causes both the proximal and distal expandable areas to be in their elongated and radially collapsed configurations, advancing the catheter over the guidewire which extends through the guidewire lumen of the elongate member to a position where the proximal expandable area is in the lumen of the common blood vessel and the distal expandable area is in the lumen of the first branch blood vessel, with the second branch blood vessel emanating from a location between the proximal and distal expandable areas; C) retracting the elongate member to the proximal position a position whereby it allows both the proximal and distal expandable areas to assume non-elongated radially expanded configurations such that the proximal expandable area contacts the common blood vessel wall and the distal expandable area contacts the first branch blood vessel wall; D) advancing a treatment device through the elongate member receiving lumen, out of the treatment device outlet opening and into the lumen of the second branch blood vessel; and E) using the treatment device to perform or facilitate performance of a treatment of a defect in the second branch blood vessel.