Patent ID: 8382784

Claim:
Instrumentation for facilitating cutting an opening in a side wall of a body conduit comprising: a tubular structure defining a lumen and having a sharpened distal end portion configured to cut a section of the body conduit to create the opening; and a tissue holding structure axially movable within the lumen of the tubular structure, the tissue holding structure comprising a piercing portion operable to form an aperture in the body conduit to permit passage of the tissue holding structure through the body conduit from an entrance side adjacent the tubular structure to an exit side thereof, and a centering guide wire extending through the tubular structure, the centering guide wire including a distal end portion having a substantially linear first configuration when entirely within the tubular structure, the distal end portion biased to have a curved second configuration when the distal end portion extends out from the tubular structure, the distal end portion having a retention member affixed thereon to secure the section of the body conduit to the tissue holding structure during movement of the tissue holding structure to approximate the entrance side of the section of the body conduit and the sharpened distal portion of the tubular structure which cuts the section of body conduit.