System and method for resecting a valve

Abstract

A system and method for resecting a valve in a patient, in which the system includes: a proximal frame and a distal frame opposite the proximal frame, each frame including a plurality of interconnectable frame segments, in which the proximal and distal frames are separated by an adjustable distance and positionable on opposite sides of the valve; an electrode, adjacent to the valve on at least one of the proximal and distal frames, that electrosurgically resects valve tissue; a proximal chamber and a distal chamber coupled to the proximal and distal frames, respectively, that allow passage of fluid and captures at least a portion of resected valve tissue, in which each chamber selectively operates in one of a radially collapsed mode and a radially expanded mode; and a drive system that adjusts the distance between the proximal and distal frames.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for resecting a valve in a patient, comprising:
 a proximal frame including a first plurality of interconnectable frame segments and a distal frame including a second plurality of interconnectable frame segments that is opposite the proximal frame; wherein the proximal and distal frames are separated by an adjustable distance and positionable on opposite sides of the valve;   an electrode, adjacent to the valve on at least one of the proximal and distal frames, that electrosurgically resects valve tissue;   a proximal chamber coupled to the proximal frame and a distal chamber coupled to the distal frame, wherein each of the proximal and distal chambers allows passage of fluid and captures at least a portion of the resected valve tissue, wherein each of the proximal and distal chambers selectively operates in one of the following modes:
 a radially collapsed mode, wherein the plurality of frame segments are nested; and 
   a radially expanded mode, wherein the plurality of frame segments are expanded relative to each other and interconnect to form a generally circular shape; and
 a drive system that adjusts the distance between the proximal and distal frames.