Methods and devices for transcarotid access

A micropuncture kit for direct access into a lumen of a surgically exposed vessel using direct visual guidance, the kit comprising:

• a micropuncture access needle comprising a proximal hub coupled to an elongate shaft defining an inner lumen and a visible depth indicator positioned on the elongate shaft a distance away from a distal tip of the elongate shaft, wherein the visible depth indicator of the micropuncture access needle provides an indication as to whether the microcatheter, when inserted into the vessel, will penetrate a wall thickness of the vessel without contacting a back side of a vessel wall of the blood vessel;
• an access guidewire sized to be received through the inner lumen of the micropuncture access needle, the guidewire comprising a distal tip and at least one visible depth indicator positioned on the access guidewire a distance away from the distal tip of the guidewire;
• and
• a microaccess cannula comprising an elongate body defining an inner lumen and a plurality of visible depth indicators formed on the elongate body, wherein each of the plurality of visible depth indicators identifies a distance from a distal tip of the cannula to a respective depth indicator;
• wherein alignment of a first visible depth indicator of the at least one visible depth indicator positioned on the access guidewire with a proximal edge of the cannula provides a visual indication to a user that the distal tip of the guidewire is aligned with the distal tip of the cannula;
• wherein alignment of a second visible depth indicator of the at least one visible depth indicator positioned on the access guidewire with a proximal edge of the cannula provides a visual indication to a user that the distal tip of the guidewire is aligned with the distal tip of the micropuncture access needle;
• wherein alignment of a third visible depth indicator of the at least one visible depth indicator positioned on the access guidewire with a proximal edge of the cannula provides a visual indication to a user that the distal tip of the guidewire positioned distally of the distal tip of the micropuncture access needle by a predetermined distance indicated by the third visible depth indicator.