Patent ID: 6837881

Claim:
A method for treating a carotid artery occlusion, comprising the steps of: inserting a distal end of a catheter into the takeoff of the left subclavian artery in the aorta, the catheter having a proximal end, the distal end of the catheter having a constricting member; locating the constricting member in the takeoff of the left common carotid artery and the left subclavian artery from the aorta upstream the left carotid artery having an occlusion; expanding the constricting member to constrict the inlets of the left common carotid artery and the left subclavian artery, wherein blood flow in the left carotid artery is reversed to pass over the occlusion and toward the left subclavian artery; and advancing a therapeutic instrument into the carotid artery to reduce the occlusion.