Devices and methods for transcatheter heart valve leaflet cutting and modification

A minimally invasive leaflet splitter for intracardiac implantation into a heart chamber for grasping a heart leaflet and modifying the leaflet, said leaflet splitter comprising:

• a proximal end, a distal end and a catheter shaft extending therebetween;
• a control handle on said leaflet splitter proximal end having a deflection knob operatively connected to said catheter shaft and wherein said catheter shaft is deflectable and said control handle controls deflection of said catheter shaft and wherein said catheter shaft defines at least one port configured for receipt of a guidewire;
• a splitter end on said leaf splitter distal end wherein said splitter end is operatively connected to said control handle which controls deflection of said splitter end and wherein said splitter end and said catheter shaft define a center lumen and wherein said splitter end is configured to wrap around itself to encircle the heart leaflet;
• and
• a wire extending within said center lumen for encircling the leaflet.

A method of utilizing a leaflet grasper for intracardiac implantation into a heart chamber for grasping and modifying a heart leaflet comprising the steps of:

• inserting the leaflet grasper into a heart chamber wherein said leaflet grasper includes a proximal end and a distal end and including a control handle on said leaflet grasper proximal end, a grasping end on said leaflet distal end, and a catheter shaft extending between said proximal end and said distal end, said grasping end includes a grasping end main shaft and a grasping arm wherein said grasping arm and said grasping arm main shaft define a leaflet receiving receptacle therebetween and wherein said grasping arm moves from a first position to a second position wherein in said second position, said grasping arm extends away from said grasping arm main shaft, and said grasping end further includes a laceration member on said grasping arm for modifying the leaflet within said cavity;
• positioning said grasping end adjacent the heart leaflet to be modified, opening said grasping arm to said second position to receive the leaflet within said receptacle;
• closing said grasping arm to said first position to secure the leaflet;
• and
• activating the laceration member to modify the leaflet.