System for incising leaflets of a heart valve
A cutting system for use prior to valve replacement that includes a cutting assembly and a sheath. The cutting assembly includes an expansion member that is movable between a stowed position and an expanded position, and at least a first cutting member associated with the expansion member. The first cutting member is configured to incise a first leaflet. The sheath defines a lumen therethrough and the cutting assembly is movable within the lumen.
1 . A cutting system for use prior to valve replacement, the cutting system comprising:
a cutting assembly that includes
an expansion member that is movable between a stowed position and an expanded position, wherein the expansion member includes a slot defined therein,
at least a first cutting member associated with the expansion member, wherein the first cutting member is movable radially outwardly with respect to the expansion member between a non-cutting position and a cutting position, wherein in the non-cutting position a cutting edge of the cutting member is located inboard of an outer surface of the expansion member and in the cutting position the cutting edge is located outboard of the outer surface of the expansion member, when the expansion member is in the expanded position, the first cutting member is movable radially outwardly through the slot between the non-cutting position and the cutting position, such that the cutting edge is located outboard of the outer surface of the expansion member, and when the expansion member is in the expanded position, the first cutting member is movable axially within the slot between a first cutting position and a second cutting position when the cutting edge is located outboard of the outer surface of the expansion member, and
a sheath that defines a lumen therethrough, wherein the cutting assembly is movable within the lumen.
2 . The cutting system of claim 1 wherein the expansion member is an expandable balloon.
3 . The cutting system of claim 1 wherein the first cutting member includes an actuated state in which the first cutting member is electrified.
4 . The cutting system of claim 3 wherein the expansion member is a braid frame, and wherein a portion of the braid frame electrically communicates the first cutting member with a power source.
5 . The cutting system of claim 1 wherein the expansion member is an expandable braid frame that is biased to the expanded position.
6 . The cutting system of claim 1 wherein the cutting assembly includes second and third cutting members associated with the expansion member, wherein the second and third cutting members are configured to incise second and third leaflets, respectively.
7 . The cutting system of claim 6 wherein the first, second and third cutting members define a length dimension, and wherein the length dimension is greater than a leaflet length.
8 . The cutting system of claim 1 wherein the expansion member is expandable radially outwardly from the stowed position to an intermediate position and from the intermediate position to the expanded position.
9 . The cutting system of claim 8 further comprising a switch member, wherein the switch member is configured to move the expansion member from the intermediate position to the expanded position.
10 . The cutting system of claim 9 wherein the switch member is movable between a first position and a second position, wherein movement of the switch member from the first position to the second position moves the expansion member from the intermediate position to the expanded position.
11 . The cutting system of claim 1 wherein the slot defines a slot length and the first cutting member defines a cutting member length, wherein the slot length is longer than the first cutting member length.
12 . The cutting system of claim 11 wherein the slot includes first and second stop surfaces, wherein in the second cutting position the first cutting member contacts the second stop surface.
13 . The cutting system of claim 1 wherein the expansion member is a braid frame, wherein the first cutting member is mounted on an arm, and wherein the arm and first cutting member are movable axially with respect to the braid frame when the expansion member is in the expanded position.
14 . The cutting system of claim 13 wherein the arm is biased from the expanded position back to an intermediate position.
15 . The cutting system of claim 1 wherein the first cutting member is mounted on an inner expansion member that is expandable separately from the expansion member.