Devices and methods of visualizing and determining depth of penetration in cardiac tissue

A method of deploying a tissue anchor comprising:

• advancing an anchor delivery device to a surface of a target tissue, the anchor delivery device comprising an elongate body comprising a proximal end, a distal end, a first longitudinal lumen that terminates at a first distal opening located at the distal end of the elongate body, and a second longitudinal lumen that terminates at a second distal opening located at a distance proximal to the distal end of the elongate body, a tissue anchor disposed in the first longitudinal lumen, and a tissue depth indicator located within the second longitudinal lumen;
• sliding the tissue depth indicator within the second longitudinal lumen such that a distal portion of the tissue depth indicator exits the second distal opening to contact the surface of the target tissue;
• urging a distal portion of the tissue depth indicator along a length of the target tissue surface to delineate the edge of the tissue surface;
• advancing the distal end of the anchor delivery device into the target tissue until the distal portion of the tissue depth indicator deflects away from the tissue surface;
• and
• deploying the tissue anchor from the first distal opening into the target tissue.

A tissue anchor delivery device comprising:

• an elongate body comprising a proximal end, a distal end, a first longitudinal lumen that terminates at a first distal opening located at the distal end of the elongate body, a second longitudinal lumen that terminates at a second distal opening located proximal to the distal end of the elongate body, and a tissue depth limiter located within the second longitudinal lumen such that a distal portion of the tissue depth limiter exits the second distal opening and the distal end of the limiter is rotatably attached along an outer wall of the elongate body at a location proximal to the first distal opening;
• a tissue anchor disposed in the first longitudinal lumen and configured to exit the first distal opening when deployed into tissue;
• and
• wherein the distal portion of the tissue depth limiter comprises a first configuration wherein at least a length of the distal portion is substantially straight, and a second configuration wherein the distal portion has a preformed curve, and wherein contacting the preformed curve with tissue causes the preformed curve to rotate with respect to the elongate body and prevents the distal end of the elongate body from penetrating a tissue surface beyond a pre-selected depth.