An apparatus for crossing a Chronic Total Occlusion, CTO, the apparatus comprising: a catheter with an extended body configured for insertion into a vessel of a patient; an intravascular imaging device on a distal portion of the extended body; an exit port on a distal end of the extended body; a crossing member within a lumen in the catheter; and characterized in that the apparatus further comprises: a spring mechanism configured to exert force on the crossing member to push the crossing member out of the exit port such that the crossing member extends away from the distal end of the extended body and is pushed through the CTO, the crossing member comprising a tip configured to cross through the CTO within a true lumen of the vessel; wherein the spring mechanism comprises a spring configured to engage with the apparatus behind a pushable surface that, when pushed, pushes the crossing member forward out of the device; and wherein the spring mechanism further comprises a catch mounted on a pivot , and wherein the catch is configured to provide a detente mechanism inside of the apparatus and a trigger handle on the outside of the apparatus such that depressing the trigger handle releases the spring , urging the crossing member forward. a catheter with an extended body configured for insertion into a vessel of a patient; an intravascular imaging device on a distal portion of the extended body; an exit port on a distal end of the extended body; a crossing member within a lumen in the catheter; and characterized in that the apparatus further comprises: a spring mechanism configured to exert force on the crossing member to push the crossing member out of the exit port such that the crossing member extends away from the distal end of the extended body and is pushed through the CTO, the crossing member comprising a tip configured to cross through the CTO within a true lumen of the vessel; wherein the spring mechanism comprises a spring configured to engage with the apparatus behind a pushable surface that, when pushed, pushes the crossing member forward out of the device; and wherein the spring mechanism further comprises a catch mounted on a pivot , and wherein the catch is configured to provide a detente mechanism inside of the apparatus and a trigger handle on the outside of the apparatus such that depressing the trigger handle releases the spring , urging the crossing member forward. a spring mechanism configured to exert force on the crossing member to push the crossing member out of the exit port such that the crossing member extends away from the distal end of the extended body and is pushed through the CTO, the crossing member comprising a tip configured to cross through the CTO within a true lumen of the vessel; wherein the spring mechanism comprises a spring configured to engage with the apparatus behind a pushable surface that, when pushed, pushes the crossing member forward out of the device; and wherein the spring mechanism further comprises a catch mounted on a pivot , and wherein the catch is configured to provide a detente mechanism inside of the apparatus and a trigger handle on the outside of the apparatus such that depressing the trigger handle releases the spring , urging the crossing member forward. <EOS>