Patent attributes
A method of treating lower leg ischemia in a patient includes advancing a wire guide upstream through a vascular access sheath extending into an artery of the patient at a percutaneous entry point in the lower leg, and increasing a downstream flow of blood through the artery at least in part by dilating a constriction in the artery with a treatment mechanism guided into the constriction via the wire guide. A low profile balloon may be used as the treatment mechanism, and is advanced through the artery while the vascular access sheath protects the artery from irritation such that spasm of the artery is less likely to occur. Reduced risk of spasm advantageously enables retrograde access to chronic total occlusions such that multiple entry points into a patient's body are not necessary.
