Patent ID: 8512310

Claim:
A method of facilitating vascular treatment via a vascular wall defining a vascular lumen having an occlusion disposed therein, the method comprising: providing an intravascular device having a distal intramural portion; inserting the intramural portion into the vascular lumen; passing the intramural portion from the vascular lumen into the vascular wall proximal of the occlusion; moving the intramural portion within the vascular wall in a longitudinal direction; moving the intramural portion within the vascular wall in a circumferential direction such that the intramural portion has a concave side facing the vascular lumen; providing a re-entry device having a tissue penetrating tip; orienting the tip as a function of the concave side of the intramural portion such that the tip is pointed toward the vascular lumen; causing the tip to penetrate tissue to pass from within the vascular wall to within the vascular lumen; and passing the intramural portion from the vascular wall into the vascular lumen distal of the occlusion such that the intravascular device extends from the vascular lumen proximal of the occlusion, transmurally adjacent the occlusion, to the vascular lumen distal of the occlusion.