TRANSCATHETER GUIDEWIRE DELIVERY SYSTEMS, CATHETER ASSEMBLIES FOR GUIDEWIRE DELIVERY, AND METHODS FOR PERCUTANEOUS GUIDEWIRE DELIVERY ACROSS HEART VALVES
Transcatheter guidewire delivery systems, catheter assemblies and associated methods for percutaneous guidewire delivery across heart valves are disclosed herein. A catheter assembly configured in accordance herewith includes an elongated tubular component and an alignment assembly at a distal portion of the tubular component and which is adapted to be located at a target location adjacent a heart valve of a patient. In one embodiment, the alignment assembly deploys to a shape set loop configuration with a side port in an open configuration positioned to allow advancement of a guidewire to exit the catheter in an aligned path with a leaflet coaptation region of the heart valve. In another embodiment, the alignment assembly has a plurality of spaced apart side ports that a guidewire may advance therethrough and toward the heart valve. In some embodiments, a wire guide is used to align the guidewire with a selected side port.
