Devices (11, 111) for providing temporary access to the ventricle of the heart and then closing such an access passage when the operation demanding such access has been completed. These devices include an anchor (13, 113) with a wire spiral (19, 119) for implantation in the tissue wall of the heart and a handle (15, 115) detachably connected to the anchor. The handle provides an axial passageway in which a hollow needle (27, 127) is slidably and stably received. With the anchor in juxtaposition with the apex of the heart, the pointed end of the hollow needle is inserted into the ventricle, and its presence traversing the wall of the heart provides a stable axis about which the wire spiral (19, 119) can be rotated to seat the anchor in precise circumscribing fashion about the hollow needle (27, 127).