Septotomy catheter for aortic dissection

A septotomy catheter, comprising:

• a base section comprising a central lumen therethrough
• two flexible, movable arms extending from a distal end of the base section wherein at least a portion of said two arms distally taper in cross-section, each arm having a channel therethrough for a passage of a guide wire;
• and
• a cutting component configured to span the two arms, wherein the cutting component is a flat electrode plate or blade energized by radio-frequency (RF) current, entirely insulated except for a most distal portion thereof which is uninsulated, the uninsulated portion resembling a wire or rod spanning the two arms, residing generally perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the catheter;
• and wherein:
• the two arms, when aligned with their longitudinal axes in parallel, have an overall cross-sectional diameter no greater than a cross-sectional diameter of the base section;
• and
• the two arms, when aligned with their longitudinal axes in parallel, are configured to direct a septum between the arms toward a cutting surface of the cutting component, and the cutting component is configured to cut the septum.

A septotomy catheter, comprising:

• a base section comprising a central lumen therethrough
• two flexible arms extending from a distal end of the base section wherein at least a portion of said two arms distally taper in cross-section, each arm having a channel therethrough for a passage of a guide wire, wherein a space exists, on the distal end of the base section, between proximal ends of the two arms connected thereto;
• and
• a cutting component configured to span the space;
• wherein the cutting component is a flat electrode plate or blade energized by radio-frequency (RF) current, entirely insulated except for a most distal portion thereof which is uninsulated, the uninsulated portion resembling a wire or rod spanning the two arms, residing generally perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the catheter;
• and wherein:
• a cutting edge of the cutting component is operational whether the two arms are aligned with their longitudinal axes in parallel, or whether the two arms are separated, pulled apart to form a Y-shape with the base section.