Patent ID: 8551097

Claim:
A device for guiding a surgical device to a desired position in a human body, the device 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 at the proximal end of the guidewire comprises a shaped element having a profile that is larger than a region of the guidewire located distal to the shaped element; an elongate body 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 a guidewire coupling member disposed at or near the distal end of the elongate body, wherein the guidewire coupling member is configured to receive the guidewire and to secure the guidewire and the elongate body together in an end-to-end configuration so as to allow the distal end of the elongate body to be pulled distally by axial tension of the guidewire.