Patent ID: 7458980

Claim:
A method for flow reversal in a carotid having a common carotid artery segment that branches into internal carotid artery and external carotid artery distal segments, the internal carotid artery distal segment having a lesion and a source of collateral flow, the method comprising the steps of: inserting the distal end of a catheter into the common carotid artery, the catheter having a proximal end, a distal end, and a balloon on a distal region of the catheter; locating the balloon within the common carotid artery; expanding the balloon to obstruct the common carotid artery, wherein blood flow in the internal carotid artery is reversed toward the common carotid artery such that the blood flow passes over the lesion; treating the lesion with an interventional catheter; and filtering blood that is reversed toward the common carotid artery.