Catheter guidance through a calcified aortic valve

1. A method of treating a patient with a calcified aortic valve, the method comprising:

introducing a guide wire into a blood vessel;

advancing the guide wire through the aorta to the aortic valve;

advancing the guide wire through the aortic valve;

introducing a catheter into the blood vessel over the guide wire, the catheter comprising an elongate body, a distal portion, a guide wire lumen, at least one deflection wire lumen, and at least one deflection wire residing in the at least one deflection wire lumen and having a distal end directly attached to the distal portion;

advancing the catheter over the guide wire through the aorta;

actuating the at least one deflection wire; and

advancing the catheter through the aortic valve, wherein actuating the at least one deflection wire occurs prior to advancing the catheter through the aortic valve.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the catheter further comprises a dilatation balloon.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprises inflating the dilatation balloon.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the catheter carries an implantable prosthetic valve.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprises deploying the implantable prosthetic valve.