Patent ID: 7771448

Claim:
A catheter for accessing the abdominal aorta of a patient, comprising: an elongate catheter shaft which is advanceable though the arterial system of the patient, the catheter shaft having a proximal portion that extends out from the patient and a distal portion adapted to be disposed within the abdominal aorta of the patient; and a plurality of independently expandable members disposed on said distal portion of said catheter shaft, said expandable members configurable to an expanded state in order to selectively occlude blood flow to different arteries extending from the abdominal aorta of the patient, wherein a first of said expandable members is dimensioned and configured so that it rests within the iliac bifurcation of the abdominal aorta of the patient when configured in its expanded state so as to secure the catheter and minimize catheter movement within the abdominal aorta of the patient, wherein a second of said expandable members is spaced apart from said first expandable member such that it is positioned upstream of the junction of the abdominal aorta and the celiac artery of the patient when said first expandable member rests within the iliac bifurcation, and wherein a third of said expandable members is disposed between said first and second expandable members such that it is positioned upstream from the junction of the renal artery and the abdominal aorta of the patient and downstream from the junction of the celiac artery and the abdominal aorta of the patient when said first expandable member rests within the iliac bifurcation.