Clip removal systems and methods

A system for detaching an interventional implant from a cardiac valve, the system comprising:

• a guide catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of the guide catheter being steerable to a position adjacent a cardiac valve;
• and
• a capture mechanism routable through the guide catheter and configured to extend beyond the distal end of the guide catheter, the capture mechanism comprising:
• a capture hypotube having a container portion distally disposed therein, the container portion being configured to receive and house the interventional implant,
• an axial actuator disposed within the capture hypotube and configured to distally translate axially into a cutout portion to thereby enable the interventional implant to be distally pushed from the cutout portion into the container portion,
• a cutting arm axially translatable around an outer surface of and rotatable relative to the capture hypotube,
• a first cutting element disposed at an edge of the capture hypotube, and
• a second cutting element disposed at an edge of the cutting arm and oriented to face the first cutting element,
• wherein axial translation of the cutting arm relative to the capture hypotube brings the first cutting element into contact with the second cutting element, thereby causing both first cutting element and second cutting element to cut cardiac tissue disposed therebetween.

A method of detaching an interventional implant from a cardiac valve within a body, the method comprising:

• providing a system for detaching an interventional implant from a cardiac valve, the system comprising
• a guide catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of the guide catheter being steerable to a position adjacent a cardiac valve;
• and
• a capture mechanism routable through the guide catheter and configured to extend beyond the distal end of the guide catheter, the capture mechanism comprising
• a capture hypotube having a container portion disposed distal a cutout portion and adjacent a terminal distal end of the capture hyptotube, the container portion being disposed at a fixed position distal a cutout portion, the container portion being configured to receive and house the interventional implant,
• a cutting arm axially translatable around an outer surface of and rotatable relative to the capture hypotube,
• a first cutting element disposed at an edge of the capture hypotube, and
• a second cutting element disposed at an edge of the cutting arm and oriented to face the first cutting element,
• wherein axial translation of the cutting arm relative to the capture hypotube brings the first cutting element into contact with the second cutting element, thereby causing both first cutting element and second cutting element to cut cardiac tissue disposed therebetween;
• positioning the distal end of the guide catheter near a targeted cardiac valve, the targeted cardiac valve including an interventional implant affixed to cardiac valve tissue;
• extending the capture mechanism distally beyond the distal end of the guide catheter;
• capturing the interventional implant within the container portion of the capture hypotube;
• and
• actuating the cutting arm to cut cardiac tissue and thereby detach the interventional implant from the cardiac tissue.