Systems and methods for lacerating heart valve leaflets

A system for lacerating heart valve leaflets, comprising:

• a first guidewire configured for insertion into a left ventricle of a heart;
• a guide catheter configured to translate along the first guidewire to a position adjacent a heart valve leaflet disposed proximate the coronary artery;
• a laceration device slidably disposed within the guide catheter, the laceration device comprising an ablative cutting element;
• and
• a coronary guidewire having a distal end configured for insertion into a coronary artery;
• wherein the guide catheter comprises a steering element configured to direct the coronary guidewire toward the coronary artery;
• wherein the laceration device cooperates with the coronary guidewire to align the ablative cutting element with a nadir of the heart valve leaflet.

A method of lacerating heart valve leaflets, comprising:

• advancing a coronary guidewire into a coronary artery;
• translating a laceration device along the coronary guidewire to a position adjacent a heart valve leaflet disposed proximate the coronary artery, wherein the laceration device comprises an ablative cutting element;
• positioning the ablative cutting element in contact with a nadir of the heart valve leaflet;
• and
• lacerating the heart valve leaflet from the nadir of the heart valve leaflet to a free edge of the heart valve leaflet.