Patent ID: 7849861

Claim:
A surgical method for isolating and occluding a portion of the iliac vasculature of a patient which branches from an iliac bifurcation of the patient, comprising: with a catheter for accessing the iliac vasculature, the catheter including an elongate catheter shaft and a plurality of independently expandable members, the catheter shaft advanceable though the iliac vasculature and having a proximal portion that extends out from the patient and a distal portion adapted to be disposed within the iliac vasculature, and the plurality of independently expandable members disposed on said distal portion of said catheter shaft, wherein said expandable members includes a first expandable member dimensioned and configured so that it rests within the iliac bifurcation leading to the common iliac arteries or veins when expanded so as to fixate the catheter within the iliac vasculature, and wherein at least two other expandable members are spaced apart proximally from said first expandable member and configured to selectively isolate and occlude blood flow through the portion of the iliac vasculature when expanded, a) advancing the catheter shaft in a distal direction through the iliac vasculature towards the iliac bifurcation such that said first expandable member is disposed distally beyond the common iliac arteries or veins; b) expanding said first expandable member and moving said catheter shaft in a proximal direction opposite said distal direction with the first expandable member expanded such that said first expandable member is seated within the iliac bifurcation and said other expandable members are disposed in the iliac vasculature proximal to said first expandable member seated within the iliac bifurcation; and c) expanding at least one of the other expandable members to selectively isolate and occlude blood flow through the portion of the iliac vasculature proximal to said first expandable member.