A system for crossing a heart valve with a guidewire includes an advancement motor and a controller. The controller controls when the advancement motor advances and retracts the guidewire. The controller is coupled to an electrocardiogram device and determines the systolic and diastolic phase of the heart from information/data from the electrocardiogram device. The guidewire advances or retracts based on the controller's determination of the systolic or diastolic phase corresponding with the heart valve being in an open configuration. The system may include a catheter including a lumen through which the guidewire is disposed. The system may further include a sensor. The sensor is in communication with the controller, and the controller will stop advancement of the guidewire if the controller determines the guidewire has not advanced between open leaflets of the heart valve based upon information/data from the sensor.
