Facilitating wire tracking across anatomical structures

A method for facilitating passage across an anatomical boundary, the method comprising:

• positioning a guide catheter in an area near the anatomical boundary, wherein the guide catheter comprises:
• a first opening on a distal end of the guide catheter;
• and
• a second opening on the distal end of the guide catheter;
• longitudinally translating a probe relative to the guide catheter so that a distal end of the probe extends through the first opening on the distal end of the guide catheter;
• longitudinally translating a retaining wire structure relative to the guide catheter so that a distal end of the retaining wire structure extends through the second opening on the distal end of the guide catheter, wherein the retaining wire structure comprises a loop at a distal end of the retaining wire structure;
• positioning a puncture needle within the loop in the area near the anatomical boundary, wherein the puncture needle comprises a puncture needle guidewire;
• inserting the puncture needle across the anatomical boundary into a target area;
• tracking the guide catheter across the anatomical boundary over the puncture needle guidewire into the target area;
• and
• inserting the probe into the target area.