Patent ID: 6908481

Claim:
A method of implanting a valve prosthesis to treat valvular aortic stenosis, which comprises the steps of: (a) advancing a first balloon dilatation catheter having distal and proximal ends and having a deflated first dilatation balloon adjacent the catheter distal end into a patient's vasculature to position said first dilatation balloon within a native stenotic aortic valve and annulus; (b) inflating said first dilatation balloon to dilate the stenotic aortic valve; (c) deflating said first dilatation balloon and withdrawing said deflated balloon in the proximal direction; (d) advancing a second dilatation catheter having distal and proximal ends and having a second deflated dilatation balloon adjacent the catheter distal end, wherein said second balloon has a valve prosthesis arranged circumferentially around said second dilatation balloon, into the patient's vasculature to position said second dilatation balloon and said valve prosthesis adjacent to the previously dilated native stenotic aortic valve; (e) inflating said second dilatation balloon to cause said valve prosthesis to adhere to said native aortic valve and annulus; and (f) deflating said second dilatation balloon and withdrawing said second catheter in the proximal direction.