SIZING CATHETER FOR MEASURING CARDIOVASCULAR STRUCTURES

摘要

A sizing catheter (10) and method of measuring a preselected internal openingwithin a patient to provide a rapid andprecise determination of first and second stretched diameters of thepreselected internal opening. The sizing catheter (10) includes adilation balloon (26) constructed of a thin expandable plastic, which isinflatable and is utilized to determine a size of the preselectedopening. The dilation balloon (26) is affixed to the tubular shaft (12)proximate the distal end (16) of the tubular shaft (12). Thedilation balloon (26) is inflated to an inflation threshold wherein thedilation balloon (26) deforms about the preselected openingand the size of the dilation balloon (26) adjacent the preselected openingapproximates the first stretched diameter of the preselectedopening. The sizing catheter (10) and method may be utilized to determine anappropriate sized device to be positioned within thepreselected opening.