Method of bidirectional crossing of an obstruction

A method of bidirectional crossing of a vascular obstruction in a vessel of a patient, the method comprising the steps of:

• introducing a first wire into a guidewire lumen of a first catheter;
• advancing the first catheter transvascularly into a vessel lumen along the first wire in a first direction towards a vascular obstruction in a vessel, the first catheter having a first central lumen in communication with a first side port, the first central lumen being separate from the guidewire lumen;
• advancing a second catheter transvascularly into the vessel lumen along a second wire in a second, opposite direction towards the obstruction, the second catheter having a second central lumen in communication with a second side port;
• advancing at least one of the first catheter or the second catheter at least partially through the vascular obstruction;
• aligning the first and second side ports within at least one of the vessel lumen or a vessel wall of the vessel to place the first central lumen in direct communication with the second central lumen;
• and
• advancing a third wire through the first and second side ports and into the second central lumen such that a first end of the third wire is on a first side of the obstruction and a second end of the third wire is on a second side of the obstruction.