Pericardial access

1. A surgical device for accessing a pericardial space of a patient, comprising:

an elongated, generally tubular body including a proximal end and a distal end, the tubular body including at least one longitudinal channel extending from the proximal end to the distal end;

a handle disposed at the proximal end of the tubular body; and

a selectively deployable suction skirt extending from a suction tube, the selectively deployable suction skirt movable between a retracted configuration in which the skirt is radially contracted and an extended configuration in which the skirt is radially expanded and includes a distal edge defining a distal opening;

a plurality of positioners operatively coupled to the skirt and independently repositionable with respect to the suction tube, the plurality of positioners configured to facilitate repositioning of the skirt between the retracted configuration and the extended configuration;

wherein, in the extended configuration, the distal edge of the skirt is configured to sealingly engage a surface of a tissue layer, the distal opening of the skirt is diametrically wider than the distal end of the tubular body, and the skirt is configured to accept a portion of the tissue layer proximally therein when suction is applied to the skirt via the tubular body.

2. The device of claim 1 ,

wherein, in the retracted configuration, the skirt is at least partially within the tubular body; and

wherein, in the extended configuration, the skirt extends distally beyond the distal end of the tubular body.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein, in the extended configuration, the skirt is generally frustoconical.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein, in the extended configuration, a width of the distal opening of the skirt is at least about 1.5 times a width of the distal end of the tubular body.

5. The device of claim 1 , further comprising an obturator sized to be received within the at least one longitudinal channel, where the obturator comprises a distally oriented, at least partially transparent, blunt-tipped dissecting point and an endoscope arranged to view through the point.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the skirt is constructed of nitinol wires braided into a mesh at least partially covered in silicone.

7. The device of claim 6 , wherein at least some of the wires of the mesh are oriented at about 45 degrees with respect to a longitudinal axis of the tubular body such that pulling proximally on the distal edge of the skirt causes the skirt to expand radially.

8. A surgical device for accessing a pericardial space of a patient, comprising:

an elongated, generally tubular body including a proximal end and a distal end, the tubular body including at least one longitudinal channel extending from the proximal end to the distal end;

a handle disposed at the proximal end of the tubular body and including an actuator; and

a selectively deployable suction skirt movable between a retracted configuration in which the skirt is radially contracted and an extended configuration in which the skirt is radially expanded and includes a distal edge defining a distal opening;

wherein, in the extended configuration, the distal edge of the skirt is configured to sealingly engage a surface of a tissue layer, the distal opening of the skirt is diametrically wider than the distal end of the tubular body, and the skirt is configured to accept a portion of the tissue layer proximally therein when suction is applied to the skirt via the tubular body; and,

wherein the skirt includes a positioner operatively coupled to the actuator, wherein the positioner is configured to move the skirt between the retracted configuration and the extended configuration.

9. The device of claim 8 , wherein, when moving from the retracted configuration to the extended configuration, the positioner either (a) moves the skirt distally, (b) expands the skirt radially, or (c) moves the skirt distally and expands the skirt radially.