Pericardial puncture device and method

A method for puncturing a pericardium comprising:

• a. with a needle received in a lumen of an introducer and a sharp distal tip of the needle shrouded within the introducer, advancing the introducer towards a pericardium;
• and
• b. rotating a handle of an actuator in a first direction to advance the sharp distal tip out of the introducer and puncture the pericardium.

A pericardial puncture device comprising:

• an introducer extending along a longitudinal axis between an introducer proximal portion defining an introducer proximal end and an introducer distal portion defining an introducer distal end, wherein the introducer has an introducer lumen extending between the introducer proximal end and the introducer distal end;
• an actuator mounted to the introducer, wherein the actuator comprises a lead screw that is received in the introducer proximal portion and a handle that extends proud of the introducer proximal portion, wherein the actuator is rotatable about the longitudinal axis with respect to the introducer and is longitudinally fixed with respect to the introducer;
• a needle extending along the longitudinal axis between a needle proximal portion having a lead nut and a needle distal portion having a sharp distal tip, wherein the lead screw is received in and engaged with the lead nut, and wherein rotation of the actuator about the longitudinal axis in a first direction drives longitudinal advancement of the needle to position the sharp distal tip proud of the introducer distal end, and wherein rotation of the actuator about the longitudinal axis in a second direction opposite the first direction drives longitudinal retraction of the needle to position the sharp distal tip shy of the introducer distal end.