Methods for facilitating revascularization of occlusion

Abstract

This patent document discloses methods for facilitating revascularization of an occlusion in a blood vessel. A method can include engaging a first guide within a vessel wall adjacent to a distal cap of the occlusion and advancing the first guide, in a retrograde direction, to a subintimal position near a proximal cap of the occlusion. A second guide can be engaged within the proximal cap or the vessel wall adjacent to the proximal cap and advanced, in an antegrade direction, until its distal end is near or axially overlaps a distal end of the first guide. A first vessel lumen, formed by advancement of the first guide, and a second vessel lumen, formed by advancement of the second guide, can be connected by inflating a balloon positioned at or near the distal end of the second guide. The distal end of the first guide can be received by a passage of the inflated balloon, the balloon can be subsequently deflated to collapse the passage and clamp a passage wall against the first guide's distal end, and the balloon and first guide can be pulled into an antegrade guide catheter.