Valve aperture sizing devices and methods

1. A method to size a valve annulus, comprising:

introducing at least part of a first device into a luminal organ at a valve annulus, the first device having a balloon positioned thereon;

inflating the balloon within the valve annulus until a point of apposition is achieved; and

obtaining a first valve annulus measurement based upon the point of apposition.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

selecting a stent valve based upon the first valve annulus measurement.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

positioning the stent valve upon the balloon;

re-introducing the at least part of the first device into the luminal organ; and

re-inflating the balloon to place the stent valve within the luminal organ.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the step of re-introducing is performed to re-introduce the at least part of the first device into the luminal organ at the valve annulus, and wherein the step of re-inflating is performed to place the stent valve within the luminal organ at or near the valve annulus.

5. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

positioning the stent valve around at least part of a second device;

introducing the at least part of the second device into the luminal organ; and

positioning the stent valve within the luminal organ using the second device.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first device is configured as a catheter having a lumen therethrough and defining a suction/infusion port so that the lumen is in communication with the balloon, and wherein the step of inflating is performed by introducing a fluid through the lumen, through the suction/infusion port, and into the balloon.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first device further comprises at least one electrode positioned within the balloon, and wherein the step of obtaining the first valve annulus measurement is performed by obtaining a size measurement within the balloon using the electrode.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

introducing a second device into the luminal organ, the second device selected from a plurality of devices based upon the first valve annulus measurement.

9. A method to size a percutaneous valve opening, comprising:

introducing at least part of a first device into a luminal organ at a percutaneous valve opening, the first device having a balloon positioned thereon;

inflating the balloon within the percutaneous valve opening until point of apposition is detected; and

obtaining a first percutaneous valve opening measurement based upon the point of apposition.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

selecting a stent valve based upon the first percutaneous valve opening measurement.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

positioning the stent valve upon the balloon;

re-introducing the at least part of the first device into the luminal organ; and

re-inflating the balloon to place the stent valve within the luminal organ.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the step of re-introducing is performed to re-introduce the at least part of the first device into the luminal organ at the percutaneous valve opening, and wherein the step of re-inflating is performed to place the stent valve within the luminal organ at or near the percutaneous valve opening.

13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

positioning the stent valve around at least part of a second device;

introducing the at least part of the second device into the luminal organ; and

positioning the stent valve within the luminal organ using the second device.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first device further comprises a pressure transducer, and wherein the step of inflating is performed until the point of apposition is detected by the pressure transducer.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first device is configured as a catheter having a lumen therethrough and defining a suction/infusion port so that the lumen is in communication with the balloon, and wherein the step of inflating is performed by introducing a fluid through the lumen, through the suction/infusion port, and into the balloon.

16. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first device further comprises at least one electrode positioned within the balloon, and wherein the step of obtaining the first percutaneous valve opening measurement is performed by obtaining a size measurement within the balloon using the electrode.

17. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

introducing a second device into the luminal organ, the second device selected from a plurality of devices based upon the first percutaneous valve opening measurement.

18. A method to size a valve annulus, comprising:

introducing at least part of a first device into a luminal organ of a patient at a valve annulus, the first device having a balloon positioned thereon and an electrode positioned within the balloon;

inflating the balloon within the valve annulus until a point of apposition is detected; and

obtaining a first valve annulus measurement using the electrode based the point of apposition.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising:

selecting a stent valve based upon the first valve annulus measurement; and

positioning the stent valve within the luminal organ using the first device or a second device.

20. The method of claim 18 , further comprising:

deflating the balloon;

removing the at least part of the first device from the luminal organ; and

performing a diagnostic or therapeutic procedure on the patient based upon the first valve annulus measurement.