Pericardial access device

A method comprising:

• distally advancing a longitudinal guide member toward a heart of a subject, the guide member (a) shaped to define a blunt distal end having an outer surface at least part of which is transparent, and (b) shaped to define an at least partially side-facing suction port at a distal portion of the longitudinal guide member;
• during the advancing, using an imaging device disposed at least partially in the guide member to generate an image of at least part of the heart;
• contacting an outer surface of a pericardium of the heart with the suction port;
• subsequently, drawing a portion of the pericardium into the guide member by applying suction to the pericardium through the suction port;
• using the imaging device to generate an image of the suction port at at least one time selected from:
• (a) prior to the drawing of the portion of the pericardium into the guide member, and (b) during the drawing of the portion of the pericardium into the guide member;
• at at least one time following the drawing of the portion of the pericardium into the guide member, generating an image of the pericardium disposed within the suction port;
• puncturing the portion of the pericardium that is in the guide member using a needle;
• following the puncturing of the portion of the pericardium using the needle, rotating the needle by greater than 90 degrees such that an opening at a distal end of a lumen of the needle faces myocardium tissue of the subject;
• and
• subsequently, passing a guidewire through the lumen of the needle.