Methods and apparatus for bypassing arterial obstructions and/or performing other transvascular procedures

• US 6,190,353 B1
• Filed: 10/11/1996
• Issued: 02/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Vascular, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: TransVascular, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Machold, Timothy R., Banks, Thomas, Redmond, Russell J., Flaherty, J. Christopher, Makower, Joshua, Vidal, Claude A., Evard, Philip Christopher, Whitt, Jason Brian, Macaulay, Patrick Edward, Garibotto, John Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Isabella, David J.
• Application Number:
  US08/730,327
• Time in Patent Office: 1,593 Days
• Field of Search: 128/897, 128/898, 128/662.06, 128/660.03, 128/661.09, 606/170-175, 606/159, 606/205, 606/206, 604/164, 604/96, 604/95, 604/39, 604/264, 604/270, 604/524, 607/107, 600/137, 600/139
• US Class Current: 604/95.01
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/3137 for examination of the interior of blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00491 Surgical glue applicators surgical adhesives A61L24/00; two-component delivery syringes A61M5/19
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0057 Implements for plugging an opening in the wall of a hollow or tubular organ, e.g. for sealing a vessel puncture or closing a cardiac septal defect sutures A61B17/04; closing rectum or urethra near body surface A61F2/0009
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0643 with separate closing member, e.g. for interlocking with staple
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/11 for performing anastomosis; Buttons for anastomosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12022 Occluding by internal devices, e.g. balloons or releasable wires plugging an opening in the wall of an organ A61B17/0057; occluders for the cervical canal A61F6/146; vas deferens occluders A61F6/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12045 double occlusion, e.g. during anastomosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12109 in a blood vessel
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12131 characterised by the type of occluding device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12136 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320725 with radially expandable cutting or abrading elements A61B17/32075 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3417 Details of tips or shafts, e.g. grooves, expandable, bendable; Multiple coaxial sliding cannulas, e.g. for dilating syringe needles A61M5/32; dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3496 Protecting sleeves or inner probes; Retractable tips for protecting body piercing guide needles A61M25/0612
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/00 Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body eye surgery A61F9/007; ear surgery A61F11/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1445 at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1477 Needle-like probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1492 having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation A61B18/1477 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/24 with a catheter A61B18/26, A61B18/28 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00243 cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00247 : Making holes in the wall of the heart, e.g. laser Myocardial revascularization
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00252 : for by-pass connections, i.e. connections from heart chamber to blood vessel or from blood vessel to blood vessel
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/003 : Steerable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00331 : with preformed bends
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00504 : Tissue welding
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00637 : for sealing trocar wounds through abdominal wall
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00668 : the implement being a tack or a staple
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0641 : having at least three legs as part of one single body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1107 : for blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1139 : Side-to-side connections, e.g. shunt or X-connections
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/12127 : Double occlusion, e.g. for creating blood-free anastomosis site
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22038 : with a guide wire
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22077 : with a part piercing the tissue A61B2017/22044 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22095 : accessing a blood vessel true lumen from the sub-intimal space
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/306 : holding by means of suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/347 : Locking means, e.g. for locking instrument in cannula
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3488 : Fixation to inner organ or inner body tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00392 : Transmyocardial revascularisation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00404 : Blood vessels other than those in or around the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00869 : Phase
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1425 : Needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1475 : Electrodes retractable in or deployable from a housing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/378 : using ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3925 : ultrasonic
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3929 : Active markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3958 : emitting a signal
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/361 : Image-producing devices, e.g. surgical cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/40 : Apparatus fixed or close to patients specially adapted for providing an aseptic surgical environment
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/07 : Stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2493 : Transmyocardial revascularisation [TMR] devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/90 : characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/95 : Instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30079 : magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/8486 : provided on at least one of the ends
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/009 : magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0076 : Unidirectional valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0096 : being laterally outward extensions or tools, e.g. hooks or fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/018 : Catheters having a lateral opening for guiding elongated means lateral to the catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1052 : for temporarily occluding a vessel for isolating a sector

Abstract

Methods, devices, and systems for a) revascularization and/or b) performing other medical procedures at vascular or non-vascular intracorporeal locations within a mammalian body. The methods generally comprise the formation of at least one extravascular passageway from a blood vessel to a vascular or non-vascular target location. In the revascularization methods the extravascular passageway is utilized for blood flow. In the medical procedure methods the extravascular passageway is utilized as a conduit for accessing or performing procedures at the vascular or non-vascular target location. Also disclosed are catheter devices and systems which are useable to form the extravascular passageways of the invention, as well as apparatus for modifying, maintaining and/or closing such extravascular passageways.

Claims

1. A catheter device that is positionable in a blood vessel and useable to penetrate through the wall of the blood vessel in which the catheter device is positioned and to a target location, said catheter device comprising:

a flexible catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end and being capable of rotation within the blood vessel;

a tissue-penetrating element passable from the catheter body for penetrating through the wall of the blood vessel in which the catheter device is positioned and to said target location, said tissue penetrating element comprising an elongate member having a substantially open lumen extending longitudinally therethrough such that a guidewire may be passed therethrough;

an orientation element for determining at least the rotational orientation of the catheter body;

an imaging apparatus which is usable in conjunction with said orientation element to facilitate aiming of the tissue penetrating element such that it will penetrate to the target location; and

a housing located on at least a distal portion of the catheter body to house said imaging apparatus;

wherein the imaging apparatus utilizes a form of energy to produce an image and wherein said housing is formed of a material which is at least partially impermeable to the energy utilized by the imaging apparatus, such that the portion of said housing that is permeable to the energy utilized by the imaging catheter forms a window to permit said imaging device to be utilized to observe the wall of the blood vessel in which the catheter is positioned relative to said target location.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said catheter device is torqueable such that said catheter device may be volitionally rotated until the imaging catheter is able to view the target location through said window, thereby ensuring that the catheter body is in the correct rotational position to cause passage of the tissue-penetrating element in the direction of said target location.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said window is aligned with the direction in which said tissue-penetrating element will pass from the catheter body.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said imaging apparatus is selected from the group consisting of:

ultrasonic imaging apparatus;

Doppler imaging apparatus;

radiographic imaging apparatus;

magnetic resonance imaging apparatus;

electromagnetic imaging apparatus; and

,

possible combinations thereof.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein said imaging apparatus is an imaging catheter.

6. A catheter device that is insertable into the lumen of a blood vessel and useable in conjunction with an imaging apparatus to penetrate through the wall of that blood vessel and to a target location, said device comprising:

a flexible catheter body having a distal portion that is positionable and rotatable within said blood vessel;

an elongate, tissue penetrating member having a distal end, said tissue penetrating member being initially disposed in a retracted position and subsequently advanceable to an extended position wherein it extends substantially laterally from said catheter body, a substantially open working lumen extending through said elongate tissue penetrating member such that a guidewire may be passed therethrough;

at least one orientation marker positioned on the catheter body and useable in conjunction with said imaging apparatus to provide an indication of the direction in which the tissue penetrating member will extend as it advances from the catheter body;

at least a portion of said catheter body being rotatable after the catheter has been placed in the blood vessel, such that an image of the marker obtained by the imaging apparatus may be positioned in a predetermined position relative to an image of the target thereby indicating that when the tissue penetrating member is subsequently advanced toward its extended position the tissue penetrating member will enter the target location.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein said tissue-penetrating member is configured to bend in a first direction as it passes from said catheter body to thereby penetrate the wall of the blood vessel in which the catheter has been inserted.

8. The device of claim 6 wherein said catheter includes an outlet aperture formed in the side wall thereof, and wherein said tissue-penetrating member, when passed out of said outlet aperture will penetrate through the wall of the blood vessel in which the catheter is positioned.

9. The device of claim 6 wherein said tissue penetrating member comprises an elongate needle having a sharp distal tip and a pre-bent resilient spine member positioned therewithin, said spine member being operative to cause said elongate needle to bend in a first direction.

10. The device of claim 6 wherein said tissue-penetrating member is an elongate member which comprises:

i) a flexible proximal shaft having a distal end, and

ii) a sharpened tip member formed of rigid material and mounted on the distal end of said flexible proximal shaft.

11. The device of claim 6 wherein said tissue-penetrating member comprises a resilient, pre-bent member having a distal tip.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein said tissue penetrating member is formed of a material which is superelastic at body temperature.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein said super elastic material is a nickel titanium alloy.

14. The dice of claim 11 wherein said pre-bent resilient member is a hollow needle having a hollow lumen extending longitudinally therethrough.

15. The device of claim 11 wherein said pre-bent resilient member is a solid needle.

16. The device of claim 6 wherein said tissue-penetrating member comprises an elongate member having a sharpened tip formed on the distal end thereof, in combination with a tubular sheath disposed around said elongate member and longitudinally moveable relative to said elongate member.

17. The device of claim 6 wherein said tissue-penetrating member comprises an elongate member having an energy-emitting distal tip, said energy-emitting distal tip being operative to emit energy which will facilitate penetration of said tissue-penetrating member through tissue.

18. The device of claim 17 wherein the energy-emitting distal tip is selected from the group consisting of:

a resistance-heated tip;

a monopolar electrocautery tip;

a bipolar electrocautery tip;

a laser emitting tip;

an ultrasound-emitting tip; and

,

possible combinations thereof.

19. The device of claim 6 wherein said tissue penetrating member comprises an elongate member having a distal end with a roaring tissue-severing apparatus formed thereon.

20. The device of claim 6 wherein said tissue-penetrating member comprises an elongate member having a lumen extending longitudinally therethrough, said lumen being connectable to a source of negative pressure so as to draw tissue into said lumen rough the distal end of the issue penetrating member.

21. The device of claim 6 wherein said tissue-penetrating member comprises:

a pre-bent resilient, tubular sheath having an open distal end; and

.

an elongate member having a sharpened distal tip, said elongate member being disposed within said tubular sheath and advanceable therethrough such that the sharpened distal tip will merge out of the open distal end of the sheath;

said elongate member being constructed of material which is sufficiently flexible to conform to the pre-bent configuration of the tubular sheath.

22. The device of claim 6 further comprising:

a side housing to house therewithin an imaging element such that the imaging element may be utilized to observe the wall of the blood vessel in which the catheter body is positioned relative to the target location.

23. The device of claim 6 wherein the tissue penetrating member comprises an elongate member disposed within a lumen formed in the catheter body, said catheter body being formed of a flexible plastic material, and wherein a rigid tubular reinforcement member is disposed about a portion of said lumen to prevent the tissue-penetrating member from penetrating into the plastic material of the catheter body when the tissue-penetrating member is retracted into the catheter body.

24. The device of claim 6 wherein said tissue penetrating member comprises an elongate member and wherein the catheter device further comprises:

a handpiece mounted on the proximal end of said catheter body, said handpiece having an actuator which is moveable in a first direction to advance said tissue-penetrating member out of said catheter body, and retractable in a second direction to retract said tissue-penetrating member into the lumen of said catheter body.

25. A catheter device according to claim 6 further comprising an imaging apparatus.

26. The device of claim 25 wherein said apparatus is selected from the group consisting of:

ultrasonic imaging apparatus;

Doppler imaging apparatus;

radiographic imaging apparatus;

magnetic resonance imaging apparatus;

electromagnetic imaging apparatus; and

possible combinations thereof.

27. The device of claim 26 wherein said imaging apparatus is an imaging catheter.

28. A system including the device of claim 6 further including a guide wire that may be advanced through said lumen after the tissue penetrating member has been advanced to said target location.

29. The device of claim 28 further comprising:

an elongate flexible guide wire which is passable through said guide wire lumen of said tissue-penetrating member.

30. A catheter device according to claim 6 further comprising:

a fluid lumen which extends through said catheter body;

at least one fluid outlet aperture through which fluid may flow from said fluid lumen into the blood vessel in which the catheter is positioned; and

a balloon formed on the catheter body to temporarily block flow through the blood vessel in which the catheter is positioned, at a site proximal to said at least one fluid outlet aperture.

31. A catheter device according to claim 6 further comprising:

a balloon which is inflatable to stabilize the catheter device as the tissue penetrating member is passed therefrom.

32. A catheter device according to claim 6 further comprising:

a deflection member for deflecting said tissue penetrating member as it passes out of the catheter body.

33. A catheter device according to claim 6 wherein said orientation marker is configured and positioned such that said indication includes an image of said marker as well as an image of said target location.

34. A catheter device that is insertable into the lumen of a blood vessel and useable in conjunction with an imaging apparatus to penetrate through the wall of that blood vessel and to a target location, said device comprising:

a flexible catheter body having a distal portion that is positionable within said blood vessel

an elongate, tissue penetrating member comprising an elongate member having a distal end and a lumen extending longitudinally therethrough, said lumen being connectable to a source of negative pressure so as to draw tissue into said lumen through the distal end of the tissue penetrating member, said tissue penetrating member being initially disposed in a retracted position and subsequently advanceable to an extended position wherein it extends substantially laterally from said catheter body; and

at least one orientation marker positioned on the catheter body and useable in conjunction with said imaging apparatus to provide an indication of the direction in which the tissue penetrating member will extend as it advances from the catheter body;

at least a portion of said catheter body being rotatable after the catheter has been placed in the blood vessel, such that an image of the marker obtained by the imaging apparatus may be positioned in a predetermined position relative to an image of the target, thereby indicating that when the tissue penetrating member is subsequently advanced toward its extended position the tissue penetrating member will enter the target location.

35. A catheter device that is insertable into the lumen of a blood vessel and useable in conjunction with an imaging apparatus to penetrate through the wall of that blood vessel and to a target location, said device comprising:

a flexible catheter body having a distal portion that is positionable within said blood vessel

an elongate, tissue penetrating member being initially disposed in a retracted position and subsequently advanceable to an extended position wherein it extends substantially laterally from said catheter body, wherein said tissue-penetrating member comprises;

a pre-bent resilient, tubular sheath having an open distal end; and

,

an elongate member having a sharpened distal tip, said elongate member being disposed within said tubular sheath and advanceable therethrough, such that the sharpened distal tip will emerge out of the open distal end of the sheath;

said elongate member being constructed of material which is sufficiently flexible to conform to the pre-bent configuration of the tubular sheath; and

at least one orientation marker positioned on the catheter body and useable in conjunction with said imaging apparatus to provide an indication of the direction in which the tissue penetrating member will extend as it advances from the catheter body;

at least a portion of said catheter body being rotatable after the catheter has been placed in the blood vessel, such that an image of the marker obtained by the imaging apparatus may be positioned in a predetermined position relative to an image of the target, thereby indicating that when the tissue penetrating member is subsequently advanced toward its extended position the tissue penetrating member will enter the target location.

36. A catheter device that is insertable into the lumen of a blood vessel and useable in conjunction with an imaging apparatus to penetrate through the wall of that blood vessel and to a target location, said device comprising:

a flexible catheter body having a distal portion that is positionable within said blood vessel

an elongate, tissue penetrating member having a distal end, said tissue penetrating member being initially disposed in a retracted position and subsequently advanceable to an extended position wherein it extends substantially laterally from said catheter body;

at least one orientation marker positioned on the catheter body and useable in conjunction with said imaging apparatus to provide an indication of the direction in which the tissue penetrating member will extend as it advances from the catheter body;

at least a portion of said catheter body being rotatable after the catheter has been placed in the blood vessel, such that an image of the marker obtained by the imaging apparatus may be positioned in a predetermined position relative to an image of the target, thereby indicating that when the tissue penetrating member is subsequently advanced toward its extended position the tissue penetrating member will enter the target location, and

a side housing to house therewithin an imaging element such that the imaging element may be utilized to observe the wall of the blood vessel in which the catheter body is positioned relative to the target location.

37. A catheter device that is insertable into the lumen of a blood vessel and useable in conjunction with an imaging apparatus to penetrate through the wall of that blood vessel and to a target location, said device comprising:

a flexible catheter body having a distal portion that is positionable within said blood vessel

an elongate, tissue penetrating member having a distal end, said tissue penetrating member being initially disposed in a retracted position and subsequently advanceable to an extended position wherein it extends substantially laterally from said catheter body, wherein the tissue penetrating member comprises an elongate member disposed within a lumen formed in the catheter body, said catheter body being formed of a flexible plastic material, and wherein a rigid tubular reinforcement member is disposed about a portion of said lumen to prevent the tissue-penetrating member from penetrating into the plastic material of the catheter body when the tissue-penetrating member is retracted into the catheter body; and

at least one orientation marker positioned on the catheter body and useable in conjunction with said imaging apparatus to provide an indication of the direction in which the tissue penetrating member will extend as it advances from the catheter body;

at least a portion of said catheter body being rotatable after the catheter has been placed in the blood vessel, such that an image of the marker obtained by the imaging apparatus may be positioned in a predetermined position relative to an image of the target, thereby indicating that when the tissue penetrating member is subsequently advanced toward its extended position the tissue penetrating member will enter the target location.

38. A catheter device that is insertable into the lumen of a blood vessel and useable in conjunction with an imaging apparatus to penetrate through the wall of that blood vessel and to a target location, said device comprising:

a flexible catheter body having a distal portion that is positionable within said blood vessel

an elongate, tissue penetrating member having a distal end, said tissue penetrating member being initially disposed in a retracted position and subsequently advanceable to an extended position wherein it extends substantially laterally from said catheter body;

at least one orientation marker positioned on the catheter body and useable in conjunction with said imaging apparatus to provide an indication of the direction in which the tissue penetrating member will extend as it advances from the catheter body; and

a handpiece mounted on the proximal end of said catheter body, said handpiece having an actuator which is moveable in a first direction to advance said tissue-penetrating member out of said catheter body, and retractable in a second direction to retract said tissue-penetrating member into the lumen of said catheter body;

at least a portion of said catheter body being rotatable after the catheter has been placed in the blood vessel, such that an image of the marker obtained by the imaging apparatus may be positioned in a predetermined position relative to an image of the target, thereby indicating that when the tissue penetrating member is subsequently advanced toward its extended position the tissue penetrating member will enter the target location.

39. A catheter device that is insertable into the lumen of a blood vessel and useable in conjunction with an imaging apparatus to penetrate through the wall of that blood vessel and to a target location, said device comprising:

a flexible catheter body having a distal portion that is positionable within said blood vessel

an elongate, tissue penetrating member having a distal end, said tissue penetrating member being initially disposed in a retracted position and subsequently advanceable to an extended position wherein it extends substantially laterally from said catheter body;

at least one orientation marker positioned on the catheter body and useable in conjunction with said imaging apparatus to provide an indication of the direction in which the tissue penetrating member will extend as it advances from the catheter body; and

an imaging apparatus;

at least a portion of said catheter body being rotatable after the catheter has been placed in the blood vessel, such that an image of the marker obtained by the imaging apparatus may be positioned in a predetermined position relative to an image of the target, thereby indicating that when the tissue penetrating member is subsequently advanced toward its extended position the tissue penetrating member will enter the target location.

40. The device of claim 39 wherein said imaging apparatus is selected from the group consisting of:

ultrasonic imaging apparatus;

Doppler imaging apparatus;

radiographic imaging apparatus;

magnetic resonance imaging apparatus;

electromagnetic imaging apparatus; and

, combinations thereof.

41. The device of claim 39 wherein said imaging apparatus is an imaging catheter.

42. A catheter device that is insertable into the lumen of a blood vessel and useable in conjunction with an imaging apparatus to penetrate through the wall of that blood vessel and to a target location, said device comprising:

a flexible catheter body having a distal portion that is positionable within said blood vessel an elongate, tissue penetrating member having a distal end, said tissue penetrating member being initially disposed in a retracted position and subsequently advanceable to an extended position wherein it extends substantially laterally from said catheter body, wherein the tissue-penetrating member includes a guide wire lumen extending longitudinally therethrough such that a guide wire may be advanced through said guide wire lumen after the tissue penetrating member has been advanced to said target location; and

at least one orientation marker positioned on the catheter body and useable in conjunction with said imaging apparatus to provide an indication of the direction in which the tissue penetrating member will extend as it advances from the catheter body;

at least a portion of said catheter body being rotatable after the catheter has been placed in the blood vessel, such that an image of the marker obtained by the imaging apparatus may be positioned in a predetermined position relative to an image of the target, thereby indicating that when the tissue penetrating member is subsequently advanced toward its extended position the tissue penetrating member will enter the target location.

43. The device of claim 42 further comprising:

an elongate flexible guide wire which is passable through said guide wire lumen of said tissue-penetrating member.

44. A catheter device that is insertable into the lumen of a blood vessel and useable in conjunction with an imaging apparatus to penetrate through the wall of that blood vessel and to a target location, said device comprising:

a flexible catheter body having a distal portion that is positionable within said blood vessel

an elongate, tissue penetrating member having a distal end, said tissue penetrating member being initially disposed in a retracted position and subsequently advanceable to an extended position wherein it extends substantially laterally from said catheter body;

at least one orientation marker positioned on the catheter body and useable in conjunction with said imaging apparatus to provide an indication of the direction in which the tissue penetrating member will extend as it advances from the catheter body;

a fluid lumen which extends through said catheter body;

at least one fluid outlet aperture through which fluid may flow from said fluid lumen into the blood vessel in which the catheter is positioned; and

,

a balloon formed on the catheter body to temporarily block flow through the blood vessel in which the catheter is positioned, at a site proximal to said at least one fluid outlet aperture;

at least a portion of said catheter body being rotatable after the catheter has been placed in the blood vessel, such that an image of the marker obtained by the imaging apparatus may be positioned in a predetermined position relative to an image of the target, thereby indicating that when the tissue penetrating member is subsequently advanced toward its extended position the tissue penetrating member will enter the target location.

45. A catheter device that is insertable into the lumen of a blood vessel and useable in conjunction with an imaging apparatus to penetrate through the wall of that blood vessel and to a target location, said device comprising:

a flexible catheter body having a distal portion that is positionable within said blood vessel

an elongate, tissue penetrating member having a distal end, said tissue penetrating member being initially disposed in a retracted position and subsequently advanceable to an extended position wherein it extends substantially laterally from said catheter body;

at least one orientation marker positioned on the catheter body and useable in conjunction with said imaging apparatus to provide an indication of the direction in which the tissue penetrating member will extend as it advances from the catheter body; and

a balloon which is inflatable to stabilize the catheter device as the tissue penetrating member is passed therefrom;

at least a portion of said catheter body being rotatable after the catheter has been placed in the blood vessel, such that an image of the marker obtained by the imaging apparatus may be positioned in a predetermined position relative to an image of the target, thereby indicating that when the tissue penetrating member is subsequently advanced toward its extended position the tissue penetrating member will enter the target location.

46. A catheter device that is insertable into the lumen of a blood vessel and useable in conjunction with an imaging apparatus to penetrate through the wall of that blood vessel and to a target location, said device comprising:

a flexible catheter body having a distal portion that is positionable within said blood vessel

an elongate, tissue penetrating member having a distal end, said tissue penetrating member being initially disposed in a retracted position and subsequently advanceable to an extended position wherein it extends substantially laterally from said catheter body;

at least one orientation marker positioned on the catheter body and useable in conjunction with said imaging apparatus to provide an indication of the direction in which the tissue penetrating member will extend as it advances from the catheter body; and

a deflection member for deflecting said tissue penetrating member as it passes out of the catheter body;

at least a portion of said catheter body being rotatable after the catheter has been placed in the blood vessel, such that an image of the marker obtained by the imaging apparatus may be positioned in a predetermined position relative to an image of the target, thereby indicating that when the tissue penetrating member is subsequently advanced toward its extended position the tissue penetrating member will enter the target location.

47. A catheter device that is insertable into the lumen of a blood vessel and useable in conjunction with an imaging apparatus to penetrate through the wall of that blood vessel and to a target location, said device comprising:

a flexible catheter body having a distal portion that is positionable within said blood vessel

an elongate, tissue penetrating member having a distal end, said tissue penetrating member being initially disposed in a retracted position and subsequently advanceable to an extended position wherein it extends substantially laterally from said catheter body; and

at least one orientation marker positioned on the catheter body and useable in conjunction with said imaging apparatus to provide an indication of the direction in which the tissue penetrating member will extend as it advances from the catheter body, wherein said orientation marker is configured and positioned such that said indication includes an image of said marker as well as an image of said target location;

at least a portion of said catheter body being rotatable after the catheter has been placed in the blood vessel, such that an image of the marker obtained by the imaging apparatus may be positioned in a predetermined position relative to an image of the target, thereby indicating that when the tissue penetrating member is subsequently advanced toward its extended position the tissue penetrating member will enter the target location.

48. A catheter device that is insertable into the lumen of a blood vessel and useable in conjunction with an imaging apparatus to penetrate through the wall of that blood vessel and to a target location, said device comprising:

a flexible catheter body having a distal portion that is positionable within said blood vessel

an elongate, tissue penetrating member having a distal end, said tissue penetrating member being initially disposed in a retracted position and subsequently advanceable to an extended position wherein it extends substantially laterally from said catheter body; and

at least one orientation marker positioned on the catheter body and useable in conjunction with said imaging apparatus to provide an indication of the direction in which the tissue penetrating member will extend as it advances from the catheter body, wherein the marker is located on the catheter body at a first location and wherein the potion of the catheter body proximal to said first location is capable of transferring torque such that, when the distal portion of the catheter body is inserted into the blood vessel and a proximal portion of the catheter body remains exteriorized, the operator may rotate the exteriorized proximal portion of the catheter body to cause said first location to rotate correspondingly, thereby bringing said image of the marker into said predetermined position relative to the image of the target;

at least a portion of said catheter body being rotatable after the catheter has been placed in the blood vessel, such that an image of the marker obtained by the imaging apparatus may be positioned in a predetermined position relative to an image of the target, thereby indicating that when the tissue penetrating member is subsequently advanced toward its extended position the tissue penetrating member will enter the target location.