Pericardial transection devices with plurality of incision members and methods of reducing pericardial restraint

A pericardial transection device for use in a pericardial cavity of a heart, said device comprising:

• an elongated member having a distal end and a proximal end and extending along a longitudinal axis, the proximal end coupled to an end of a catheter;
• a plurality of extensions operably coupled to the distal end of the elongated member;
• and
• a sheath having a distal end encircling at least the distal end of the elongated member an in a longitudinally slidable relation therewith, where in a first sliding position, at least the distal end of the elongated member and the plurality of extensions are encircled by the sheath, and in a second sliding position, the plurality of extensions project from the distal end of the sheath,
• wherein the plurality of extensions are structured such that, in the second sliding position when the device is deployed in the pericardial cavity, at least two of the plurality of extensions extend radially outwardly to contact a surface below the pericardial cavity and at least one of the plurality of extensions extends radially outwardly to contact the surface above the pericardial cavity, wherein the at least one of the plurality of extensions structured to contact the surface above the pericardial cavity is structured for cutting pericardial tissue.

A pericardial transection device for use in a pericardial cavity of a heart, said device comprising:

• an elongated member having a distal end and a proximal end and extending along a longitudinal axis, the proximal end coupled to an end of a catheter;
• a plurality of extensions operably coupled to the distal end of the elongated member;
• and
• a sheath having a distal end encircling at least the distal end of the elongated member an in a longitudinally slidable relation therewith, where in a first sliding position, at least the distal end of the elongated member and the plurality of extensions are encircled by the sheath, and in a second sliding position, the plurality of extensions project from the distal end of the sheath, and
• wherein the plurality of extensions are structured such that, in the second sliding position when the device is deployed in the pericardial cavity, (i) at least two of the plurality of extensions extend radially outwardly to contact a surface below the pericardial cavity and are structured to provide any one of:
• stability, fixation or increase surface contact in the second sliding position and (ii) at least one of the plurality of extensions extends radially outwardly to contact the surface above the pericardial cavity, wherein the at least one of the plurality of extensions structured to contact the surface above the pericardial cavity is structured for cutting pericardial tissue.