Patent ID: 7241273

Claim:
A method for providing localized medical care to a renal system in a patient, comprising: positioning a distal end portion of a catheter at a location within the patient's aorta that is adjacent to an ostium of at least one renal artery extending from the aorta; using the distal end portion of the catheter from within the aorta at the location, directing a volume of fluid within the aorta to be locally delivered primarily into the at least one renal artery via its ostium; while locally delivering the volume of fluid into the at least one renal artery, allowing a substantial volume of aortic blood to flow downstream past the location and into the patient's downstream circulation downstream from the renal artery ostium; substantially isolating the volume of fluid being directed into the at least one renal artery from mixing with the substantial volume of aortic blood flowing downstream from the location; and conducting an interventional medical procedure at least in part with a guide or diagnostic catheter at an upstream location upstream from the location while locally directing the volume of fluid into the at least one renal artery, and while allowing the substantial volume of aortic blood to flow downstream from the ostium, and also while substantially isolating the volume of fluid from mixing with the substantial volume of aortic blood flowing downstream.