Cutting tool with integrated retractable blade system for interatrial shunt

A method of creating a shunt between two chambers of a mammalian heart, the method comprising:

• providing a sheath defining a central lumen and a cutting tool, the cutting tool having:
• an elongate body extending along at least a portion of the central lumen of the sheath;
• a hub;
• and
• a plurality of blades coupled to the hub;
• advancing the cutting tool through the central lumen and positioning the cutting tool proximate to a septal wall;
• puncturing the septal wall with a distal end of the cutting tool to form an aperture within the septal wall;
• advancing the cutting tool through the aperture with the plurality of blades in an expanded configuration;
• and
• rotating the hub in a first direction to form a shunt within the septal wall.

A method of creating a shunt between two chambers of a mammalian heart, the method comprising:

• providing a sheath defining a central lumen and a cutting tool, the cutting tool having:
• a hub;
• and
• a plurality of blades coupled to the hub, the plurality of blades each having a curved lateral surface;
• advancing the cutting tool through the central lumen and positioning the cutting tool proximate to a septal wall;
• puncturing the septal wall with a distal end of the cutting tool to form an aperture within the septal wall;
• advancing the cutting tool through the aperture so that the plurality of blades is in a collapsed position;
• rotating the hub in a first radial direction to transition the plurality of blades from a collapsed position to an expanded position, the transitioning of the plurality of blades to the expanded position cutting the septal wall to form a shunt therein;
• and
• rotating the hub in a second radial direction to transition the plurality of blades from the expanded position to the collapsed position, the second radial direction being different from the first radial direction.