A vessel locator apparatus for the vasculature, comprising: a locator housing; an elongated cavity defined in the locator housing; a superelastic wire positioned at least partially in the elongated cavity and having a proximal end and a distal end, the superelastic wire comprising: an elongated portion extending in a substantially longitudinal direction; and a distal locator portion having a deployment shape configuration comprising: a first curved segment; a second curved segment; an intermediate segment extending between the first curved segment and the second curved segment; and an end segment extending between the second curved segment and the distal end of the superelastic wire; wherein, in the deployment shape configuration: the distal locator portion has a generally or substantially flattened profile; at least two of the first curved segment, the intermediate segment, the second curved segment, and the end segment are substantially oriented along a common plane; the intermediate segment and the end segment are substantially parallel; and the elongated portion of the superelastic wire is oriented such that it is non-parallel with the common plane; wherein the elongated portion of the superelastic wire extends from the distal locator portion toward the proximal end of the superelastic wire, wherein the distal locator portion of the superelastic wire is positioned within the elongated cavity, wherein the distal locator portion has an insertion shape configuration differing from the deployment shape configuration while positioned in the elongated cavity; and wherein the distal end of the superelastic wire comprises a rounded tip configured to protrude from the locator housing when the distal locator portion is in the insertion shape configuration. a locator housing; an elongated cavity defined in the locator housing; a superelastic wire positioned at least partially in the elongated cavity and having a proximal end and a distal end, the superelastic wire comprising: an elongated portion extending in a substantially longitudinal direction; and a distal locator portion having a deployment shape configuration comprising: a first curved segment; a second curved segment; an intermediate segment extending between the first curved segment and the second curved segment; and an end segment extending between the second curved segment and the distal end of the superelastic wire; wherein, in the deployment shape configuration: the distal locator portion has a generally or substantially flattened profile; at least two of the first curved segment, the intermediate segment, the second curved segment, and the end segment are substantially oriented along a common plane; the intermediate segment and the end segment are substantially parallel; and the elongated portion of the superelastic wire is oriented such that it is non-parallel with the common plane; wherein the elongated portion of the superelastic wire extends from the distal locator portion toward the proximal end of the superelastic wire, wherein the distal locator portion of the superelastic wire is positioned within the elongated cavity, wherein the distal locator portion has an insertion shape configuration differing from the deployment shape configuration while positioned in the elongated cavity; and an elongated portion extending in a substantially longitudinal direction; and a distal locator portion having a deployment shape configuration comprising: a first curved segment; a second curved segment; an intermediate segment extending between the first curved segment and the second curved segment; and an end segment extending between the second curved segment and the distal end of the superelastic wire; a first curved segment; a second curved segment; an intermediate segment extending between the first curved segment and the second curved segment; and an end segment extending between the second curved segment and the distal end of the superelastic wire; wherein, in the deployment shape configuration: the distal locator portion has a generally or substantially flattened profile; at least two of the first curved segment, the intermediate segment, the second curved segment, and the end segment are substantially oriented along a common plane; the intermediate segment and the end segment are substantially parallel; and the elongated portion of the superelastic wire is oriented such that it is non-parallel with the common plane; the distal locator portion has a generally or substantially flattened profile; at least two of the first curved segment, the intermediate segment, the second curved segment, and the end segment are substantially oriented along a common plane; the intermediate segment and the end segment are substantially parallel; and the elongated portion of the superelastic wire is oriented such that it is non-parallel with the common plane; wherein the elongated portion of the superelastic wire extends from the distal locator portion toward the proximal end of the superelastic wire, wherein the distal locator portion of the superelastic wire is positioned within the elongated cavity, wherein the distal locator portion has an insertion shape configuration differing from the deployment shape configuration while positioned in the elongated cavity; and wherein the distal end of the superelastic wire comprises a rounded tip configured to protrude from the locator housing when the distal locator portion is in the insertion shape configuration.