System and methods for cutting heart valve leaflets

A system for cutting a valve leaflet of a heart valve having multiple valve leaflets, the system comprising:

• an elongate shaft with an expandable balloon coupled to a distal end of the elongate shaft, wherein the expandable balloon is configured to shift between a deflated configuration and an inflated configuration;
• an expandable framework disposed on an outer surface of the expandable balloon, the expandable framework including a proximal base and at least two struts extending distally from the proximal base, the at least two struts spaced apart around the proximal base, the expandable framework configured to shift between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration;
• and
• at least one electrode disposed on a radially outward surface of at least one of the struts, wherein when the expandable framework is in the expanded configuration, the at least one electrode is configured to cut the valve leaflet.

A method of cutting a leaflet of an existing heart valve, comprising:

• inserting a cutting device in a compressed configuration into the existing heart valve, the cutting device including:
• an elongate shaft with an expandable balloon coupled to a distal end thereof, the expandable balloon configured to shift between a deflated configuration and an inflated configuration;
• an expandable framework disposed radially outward of the expandable balloon, the expandable framework configured to shift between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration, wherein at least one electrode is disposed on the expandable framework;
• expanding the expandable balloon to expand the expandable framework against the leaflet with the at least one electrode in contact with a target location of the leaflet;
• activating the at least one electrode to begin cutting the leaflet;
• and
• moving the cutting device axially to continue cutting the leaflet.