Abstract: A method for heart valve treatment includes providing a first heart valve treatment member movable along a first shaft portion, providing a second heart valve treatment member movable along a second shaft portion. The first and second heart valve treatment members are movable along the first and second shaft portions, respectively. The first heart valve treatment member is positioned on one side of a heart valve leaflet and the second heart valve treatment member is positioned on an opposite side of the heart valve leaflet. A portion of the heart valve leaflet is fracture by movement of the first heart valve treatment member with respect to the second heart valve treatment member.

Abstract: A device (30) for fracturing calcifications in heart valves includes a first heart valve treatment member (12) that extends from a first shaft (20) and which includes a scoring portion (16). A second heart valve treatment member (32) extends from a second shaft (36) and has a counterforce member (34). The second heart valve treatment member (32) and counterforce member (34) are coupled to the second shaft (36) with a brace (35) arranged to bear a force applied by scoring portion (16) to the counterforce member (34).

Abstract: A device for fracturing calcifications in heart valves including an expandable stabilizer and expandable impactor arms assembled on and deployed by a delivery system, wherein the delivery system is operable to move the impactor arms, while in an expanded position, with respect to the stabilizer with sufficient energy so as to fracture a calcification located in tissue which is sandwiched between the stabilizer and the impactor arms.

Abstract: A device for fracturing calcifications in heart valves includes a stabilizer and an impactor movable towards each other. The impactor includes one or more impactor arms, each of which extends distally from a proximal cap. The impactor further includes one or more lever arms each of which is distally coupled to a lever cap and proximally coupled to a corresponding one of the one or more impactor arms. The lever cap slides on a shaft which extends towards the proximal cap. Proximal movement of the lever cap towards the proximal cap causes the one or more lever arms to deform and to push against the one or more impactor arms and to cause the one or more impactor arms to deform.

Abstract: A transcatheter valve laceration device includes a leaflet support frame and a leaflet cutting assembly, both of which are movably mounted on a guiding structure and movable between contracted and expanded orientations. In the expanded orientation, a blade protector of the leaflet support frame is positioned over a cutting element of the leaflet cutting assembly.

Abstract: A transcatheter valve laceration device (10, 100) includes a leaflet support frame (12, 112) and a leaflet cutting assembly (14, 114), both of which are movably mounted on a guiding structure (16, 116) and movable between contracted and expanded orientations. In the expanded orientation, a blade protector (24, 124) of the leaflet support frame (12, 112) is positioned over a cutting element (36, 136) of the leaflet cutting assembly (14, 114).

Abstract: A device for fracturing calcifications in heart valves includes a tube formed with at least two longitudinal slits that form at least two struts. Each of the struts includes two or more pairs of notches formed on opposite sides of the strut. The struts have a contracted orientation in which the struts are not expanded outwards from the tube and an outwardly expanded orientation in which the struts are expanded outwards from the tube and have sufficient strength and rigidity to impact and fracture a calcification in a heart valve.

Abstract: A calcification treatment device includes a catheter with proximal and distal ends. The catheter has at its distal end a non-occluding expansion element movable from a closed to an open position. In the open position, the expansion element is configured to apply force to leaflets of a valve so as to forcefully open the leaflets.

Abstract: A device for fracturing calcifications in heart valves including an expandable stabilizer and expandable impactor arms assembled on and deployed by a delivery system, wherein the delivery system is operable to move the impactor arms, while in an expanded position, with respect to the stabilizer with sufficient energy so as to fracture a calcification located in tissue which is sandwiched between the stabilizer and the impactor arms.

Abstract: A calcification treatment device includes an outer body (12) including an inner cavity and at least one outer calcification treatment member (16) facing towards the inner cavity. An inner body (18) is movable into the inner cavity and includes at least one inner calcification treatment member (20) facing towards an inner surface of the outer body. One of the outer and inner calcification treatment members includes an expandable treatment member and one of the outer and inner calcification treatment members includes one or more fracturing elements capable of fracturing a calcification of a valve tissue.

Abstract: A calcification treatment device includes an outer body (12) including an inner cavity and at least one outer calcification treatment member (16) facing towards the inner cavity. An inner body (18) is movable into the inner cavity and includes at least one inner calcification treatment member (20) facing towards an inner surface of the outer body. One of the outer and inner calcification treatment members includes an expandable treatment member and one of the outer and inner calcification treatment members includes one or more fracturing elements capable of fracturing a calcification of a valve tissue.

Abstract: A device for fracturing calcifications in heart valves includes a tube formed with at least two longitudinal slits that form at least two struts. Each of the struts includes two or more pairs of notches formed on opposite sides of the strut. The struts have a contracted orientation in which the struts are not expanded outwards from the tube and an outwardly expanded orientation in which the struts are expanded outwards from the tube and have sufficient strength and rigidity to impact and fracture a calcification in a heart valve.

Abstract: A device for fracturing calcifications in heart valves includes a stabilizer and an impactor movable towards each other. The impactor includes one or more impactor arms, each of which extends distally from a proximal cap. The impactor further includes one or more lever arms each of which is distally coupled to a lever cap and proximally coupled to a corresponding one of the one or more impactor arms. The lever cap slides on a shaft which extends towards the proximal cap. Proximal movement of the lever cap towards the proximal cap causes the one or more lever arms to deform and to push against the one or more impactor arms and to cause the one or more impactor arms to deform.

Abstract: A device for fracturing calcifications in heart valves includes a tube formed with at least two longitudinal slits that form at least two struts (4). Each of the struts includes two or more pairs of notches (3) formed on opposite sides of the strut. The struts have a contracted orientation in which the struts are not expanded outwards from the tube and an outwardly expanded orientation in which the struts are expanded outwards from the tube and have sufficient strength and rigidity to impact and fracture a calcification in a heart valve.

Abstract: A device for fracturing calcifications in heart valves includes a stabilizer and an impactor movable towards each other. The impactor includes one or more impactor arms, each of which extends distally from a proximal cap. The impactor further includes one or more lever arms each of which is distally coupled to a lever cap and proximally coupled to a corresponding one of the one or more impactor arms. The lever cap slides on a shaft which extends towards the proximal cap. Proximal movement of the lever cap towards the proximal cap causes the one or more lever arms to deform and to push against the one or more impactor arms and to cause the one or more impactor arms to deform.

Abstract: A device for fracturing calcifications in heart valves includes a stabilizer and an impactor movable towards each other. The impactor includes one or more impactor arms, each of which extends distally from a proximal cap. The impactor further includes one or more lever arms each of which is distally coupled to a lever cap and proximally coupled to a corresponding one of the one or more impactor arms. The lever cap slides on a shaft which extends towards the proximal cap. Proximal movement of the lever cap towards the proximal cap causes the one or more lever arms to deform and to push against the one or more impactor arms and to cause the one or more impactor arms to deform.

Abstract: A device for fracturing calcifications in heart valves characterized by a stabilizer assembly and an impactor assembly assembled on and deployed by a delivery system, wherein said delivery system is operable to cause relative motion between said impactor assembly and said stabilizer assembly with sufficient energy so as to fracture a calcification located in tissue which is sandwiched between said stabilizer assembly and said impactor assembly, wherein said impactor assembly and said stabilizer assembly have shaped impact delivery portions of which the footprint on the valve leaflets is shaped in accordance with a shape of desired fracture sites.

Abstract: A device for fracturing calcifications in heart valves includes a stabilizer assembly (20) for use with an impactor assembly (10). Relative motion between the impactor assembly (10) and the stabilizer assembly (20) with sufficient energy fractures a calcification located in tissue which is sandwiched between the stabilizer assembly (20) and the impactor assembly (10). The stabilizer assembly (20) includes a plurality of distal stabilizer struts (28) connected by stabilizer loops (30) which extend proximally backwards.

Abstract: A device for fracturing calcifications in heart valves includes a tube formed with at least two longitudinal slits that form at least two struts (4). Each of the struts includes two or more pairs of notches (3) formed on opposite sides of the strut. The struts have a contracted orientation in which the struts are not expanded outwards from the tube and an outwardly expanded orientation in which the struts are expanded outwards from the tube and have sufficient strength and rigidity to impact and fracture a calcification in a heart valve.

Abstract: A device for fracturing calcifications in heart valves including an expandable stabilizer and expandable impactor arms assembled on and deployed by a delivery system, wherein the delivery system is operable to move the impactor arms, while in an expanded position, with respect to the stabilizer with sufficient energy so as to fracture a calcification located in tissue which is sandwiched between the stabilizer and the impactor arms.