An illuminated needle device for performing a heart valve repair includes an outer member and an inner member. The outer member includes a body that has a proximal end and a distal end. The body of the outer member defines a lumen therethrough and the distal end of the body includes a needle. The inner member is slidably disposed within the lumen of the outer member. The inner member includes a distal end that has a radiation emitting element. The illuminated needle device is characterized by the outer and inner members together forming a flexible, elongate shaft, and the inner member being configured to emit radiation from the radiation emitting element from a location proximate to the distal end of the outer member.
