One embodiment is directed to a method for providing surgical access across a wall of a tissue structure, comprising: measuring a thickness of the wall of the tissue structure at a targeted entry location； and providing a helical needle having a helical needle pitch selected to pull an intercoupled suture member across the wall with a distal portion of the needle such that a deployed suture pattern is formed, the deployed suture pattern being characterized in that it is substantially helical and represents a number of helical loops substantially encapsulated by the wall of the tissue structure that is greater than about one helical loop, and is less than about three helical loops.
