An improved percutaneous tissue grasping apparatus and method provide for reduced trauma to tissue associated with the insertion and advancement of the apparatus. In one aspect, the percutaneous tissue grasping apparatus may include a blunt nose that is flush with or extends beyond a distal end of an outer tubular member. As such, when advanced into and through tissue, tissue is prevented from advancing proximally into the outer member. As such, the trauma attendant with advancement of such apparatus into tissue of a patent may be reduced.
