Transcatheter laser device

An apparatus comprising:

• a catheter configured to be inserted transvascularly into a body of a subject and advanced toward a leaflet of a heart valve selected from the group consisting of:
• a native heart valve of the subject, and a prosthetic heart valve implanted in the body of the subject, the catheter comprising:
• a distal segment comprising a distal tip, the distal segment configured to deflect so as to position the distal tip with respect to the leaflet;
• a pre-shaped nitinol wire guide loop configured to be deployed and brought into contact with the leaflet;
• and
• one or more optical fibers disposed within the catheter and configured to deliver laser energy to the leaflet via the distal tip when (i) the distal tip is positioned with respect to the leaflet, (ii) a laser coupled to a proximal end of the catheter is activated, and (iii) the proximal end of the catheter is disposed outside the body of the subject.