Patent ID: 7059330

Claim:
A method for revascularization, said method comprising the steps of: a) choosing a first location on a blood vessel that has a lumen containing blood having a pO 2 of at least 50; and b) forming a passageway that extends outside of said lumen and between said first location and a second location on a blood vessel, such that said blood will flow through said passageway, said passageway being formed by i) providing a passageway-forming catheter device that comprises an elongate flexible catheter body having a tissue-penetrating element passable therefrom; ii) inserting said catheter body into the blood vessel lumen and positioning said catheter body within the blood vessel lumen such that the tissue-penetrating element is located adjacent the location at which said passageway is to be formed; and iii) passing said tissue-penetrating element from said catheter body so as to form said passageway such that blood will flow from the first location through the passageway and to the second location.