Interatrial septum penetration

A method comprising:

• inserting a catheter into a right atrium of a heart of the subject;
• advancing a distal portion of the catheter toward a fossa ovalis of the heart;
• deploying a flexible longitudinal member from the catheter, such that a deployed portion of the flexible longitudinal member is loop-shaped;
• contacting the fossa ovalis with the deployed portion of the flexible longitudinal member;
• deploying a needle from the catheter;
• bringing a distal end of the needle in contact with a site on a surface of an interatrial septum of the heart outside the fossa ovalis;
• forming a hole through the interatrial septum at the site with the needle;
• and
• withdrawing the deployed portion of the flexible longitudinal member toward the catheter.

A method comprising:

• inserting a catheter into a right atrium of a heart of a subject;
• advancing a distal portion of the catheter toward a roof of the right atrium;
• deploying a flexible longitudinal member from the catheter, such that a deployed portion of the flexible longitudinal member is loop-shaped;
• contacting, with the deployed portion of the flexible longitudinal member, a stabilization site located (a) on the roof of the right atrium, (b) between the roof and an interatrial septum of the heart, or (c) on the interatrial septum superior to a fossa ovalis of the heart;
• deploying a needle from the catheter;
• bringing a distal end of the needle in contact with a hole site on a surface of the interatrial septum;
• forming a hole through the interatrial septum at the hole site with the needle;
• and
• withdrawing the deployed portion of the flexible longitudinal member toward the catheter.