Patent ID: 6375615
Filing Date: 2002-04-23
Classification: A61B,A61F,A61K,A61M

Abstract:
A catheter device that is useable to penetrate from a position within the lumen of a first blood vessel within a patient's body in which the catheter device is positioned, through the wall of that first blood vessel and to a target location located within the patient's body outside of that first blood vessel, said catheter device comprising:a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, said catheter being advanceable into said first blood vessel; a tissue penetrator that is advanceable from the catheter, said tissue penetrator being operative to penetrate from the lumen of the first blood vessel through the wall of that first blood vessel and to the target location; an imaging transducer located on or in the catheter for providing an imaging signal from which an image of at least the target location can be obtained; and, a marker that indicates the direction in which the tissue penetrator will advance from the catheter; said imaging transducer and said marker being useable in cooperation with each other to enable the operator to rotationally orient the catheter, prior to advancement of the tissue penetrator, so that the marker indicates that when the tissue penetrator is subsequently advanced from the catheter it will extend to the target location, as desired.