Abstract: A system for exchanging a smaller guide catheter with a larger guide catheter without removal of the coronary guide wire during angioplasty. An extender guide catheter is connected to the end of the implanted guide catheter, such as with a connector member. A larger guide catheter is advanced over the extended and implanted guide catheters into the aorta and the latter guide catheters are removed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for passively perfusing blood past a stenosis during angioplasty. The apparatus utilizes a guide catheter having a plurality of openings in fluid communication with a guide lumen. A balloon catheter inserted within the guide catheter has a port located adjacent at least one of the openings in the guide catheter. A proximal balloon and a distal balloon may be utilized to respectively seal a distal end of the guide catheter and inflate the stenosis. A pressure equalization device, such as a syringe is utilized to initiate blood flow from an upstream blood vessel located proximal to the distal balloon to a downstream blood vessel located distal to the inflated distal balloon.