Patent ID: 7717930

Claim:
A valvulotome device for removing valve leaflets of a body vessel comprising a catheter having a proximal end and a distal tip, the catheter including an inner tubular member extending axially from the distal tip, the catheter being disposed around a longitudinal axis, a tubular member having a first portion including two valvulotome cutting arms joined together at a common proximal end and a second portion coaxially disposed about the inner tubular member, the valvulotome cutting arms being moveable from a radially compact delivery configuration to a radially expanded configuration, the valvulotome cutting arms being positioned between the proximal end and the distal tip of the catheter in both the radially compact delivery configuration and the radially expanded configuration; and the valvulotome cutting arms each having a notch facing toward the longitudinal axis and including a cutting edge at least partially enclosed within the notch, the valvulotome cutting arms including a first notch on a first arm oriented in a first direction and a second notch on a second arm oriented in a second direction oppositely disposed from the first direction.