Catheter having tissue-engaging device

An apparatus for use with a first biological wall positioned adjacent to a second biological wall of a patient, the apparatus comprising:

• an elongated puncture device;
• and
• an elongated catheter including a distal catheter section having a tissue-engaging device configured to be urged to move and contact a first surface of the first biological wall;
• and
• the elongated catheter configured to slidably guide, at least in part, movement of the elongated puncture device toward the tissue-engaging device;
• and
• the elongated puncture device configured to form a puncture passage extending through the first biological wall after the elongated puncture device is slidably guided, at least in part, toward the first biological wall and past the tissue-engaging device;
• and
• the tissue-engaging device extending, at least in part, from the distal catheter section;
• and
• the tissue-engaging device configured to be urged to puncture through the first biological wall after the tissue-engaging device has been urged to move and contact the first surface of the first biological wall;
• and
• the tissue-engaging device also configured to be urged to contact, at least in part, the first surface of the first biological wall, without impinging the second biological wall, after the tissue-engaging device has punctured through the first biological wall;
• and
• the tissue-engaging device also configured to be selectively urged to contact, at least in part, a second surface of the first biological wall, without impinging the second biological wall, after the tissue-engaging device is urged to puncture past the first surface and through the first biological wall in such a way that the tissue-engaging device, in use, elastically stretches, at least in part, the first biological wall away from the second biological wall in response to the tissue-engaging device being urged to move away from the second biological wall, and the elongated puncture device is movable to puncture through the first biological wall;
• and
• wherein the tissue-engaging device includes a first curved tine and a second curved tine positioned on opposite sides of the tissue-engaging device, the first curved tine and the second cured tine being positioned on, and extending from, a circumferential edge of the tissue-engaging device;
• and
• a first curved tine groove positioned between the first curved tine and a distal portion of the tissue-engagement device and a second curved tine groove positioned between the second curved tine and the distal portion of the tissue-engagement device, the first curved tine groove and the second curved tine groove each having an opening, a closed end opposite the opening, a first edge, and a second edge, wherein the first edge and the second edge are parallel from the opening to the closed end.

An apparatus for use with a first biological wall positioned adjacent to a second biological wall of a patient, the apparatus comprising:

• an elongated catheter including a distal catheter section having a tissue-engaging device configured to be urged to move and contact a first surface of the first biological wall;
• and
• the tissue-engaging device extending, at least in part, from the distal catheter section, the tissue-engaging device consisting of:
• a first curved tine and a second curved tine positioned on opposite sides of the tissue-engaging device, the first curved tine and the second cured tine being positioned on, and extending from, a circumferential edge of the tissue-engaging device;
• and
• a first curved tine groove positioned between the first curved tine and a distal portion of the tissue-engagement device and a second curved tine groove positioned between the second curved tine and the distal portion of the tissue-engagement device, the first curved tine groove and the second curved tine groove each having an opening adjacent a tine tip, a closed end opposite the opening, a first edge, and a second edge, wherein the first edge and the second edge are parallel from the opening to the closed end.