DEVICES AND METHODS FOR PERFORMING PROCEDURES ON CARDIAC TISSUE

1 . An elongate tissue dissection and removal catheter having a length and defining a longitudinal axis along the length of the catheter, the tissue dissection and removal catheter comprising:

an outer tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, and defining an elongate passage therethrough along its length;

a subassembly slidably disposed in the elongate passage of the outer tubular member, the subassembly including first and second deployable stabilizers, the first and second deployable stabilizers each being configured to expand in lateral width along a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis when unconstrained by the outer tubular member, each said stabilizer defining a curved free distal end that is configured to be received within a cusp of a respective cardiac valve leaflet, wherein:

the curved free distal end of each said stabilizer is configured to face along a distal direction such that distal advancement of the subassembly urges the curved free distal end of each stabilizer into a respective cardiac valve cusp;

each said deployable stabilizer is configured to stabilize the subassembly in place without individually grasping cardiac tissue, and

the first and second deployable stabilizers are configured to be slidably and rotatably articulable with respect to each other; and

a further tool configured to be deployed distally out of the outer tubular member, the further tool being slidably and rotatably displaceable with respect to the first and second deployable stabilizers.

2 . The catheter of claim 1 , wherein each of the stabilizers includes a self-expanding loop of material that expands radially outwardly and laterally outwardly.

3 . The catheter of claim 2 , wherein at least one of the stabilizers is formed from a loop of shape memory material.

4 . The catheter of claim 3 , wherein at least one of the stabilizers includes a first length of material and a second length of material, each said first length of material and second length of material including a respective proximal end attached to the subassembly, each said first and second lengths of material further including a respective distal end attached to opposing ends of a 360 degree loop of material, wherein the 360 degree loop of material is configured to facilitate lateral collapsing and deployment of said at least one of the stabilizers, and further wherein said 360 degree loop of material is located at a midpoint of the curved free distal end of said at least one of the stabilizers.

5 . The catheter of claim 1 , wherein the first and second deployable stabilizers are formed from a nickel titanium alloy.