A guiding catheter includes an elongate shaft with a central lumen and a
mechanically expandable sealing membrane mounted about the distal end of
the shaft. An expansion wire is slidably disposed in a dedicated lumen
within the catheter, the expansion wire having an expandable distal
portion with a pre-formed expanded shape capable of expanding the sealing
membrane into sealing engagement with the wall of an artery to provide
occlusion of blood flowing through the artery. In one embodiment, a
steering wire is slidably disposed in a dedicated lumen within the
catheter and is fixed adjacent the shaft distal end. Pushing or pulling
the steering wire deflects the distal end of the catheter. In another
embodiment, the guiding catheter has a pre-formed curve adjacent the
distal end of the shaft.