Patent ID: 7857813

Claim:
A system for guiding a surgical device to a desired position in a human body, the system comprising: a guidewire having a proximal end and a sharp and tissue penetrating distal end and a coupling member at the proximal end, wherein the coupling member comprises a shaped element having a profile that is larger than a region of the guidewire located distal to the shaped element; and an elongate surgical device having a proximal end and a flat, thin and flexible distal end region, wherein the distal end region comprises an abrasive member on one side and has an atraumatic surface on the opposite side, with a receiving coupling member disposed at or near the distal end, wherein the receiving coupling member comprises a channel configured to receive the coupling member and to secure the guidewire and the surgical device together in an end-to-end configuration by engaging the guidewire in the channel so as to allow the distal end of the surgical device to be pulled distally by axial tension of the guidewire; wherein the surgical device comprises an abrasive surgical device.