ALEXANDRIA, Va., July 30 -- United States Patent no. 12,369,935, issued on July 29, was assigned to Kar Health LLC (Irvine, Calif.).

"Percutaneous device for intentional laceration of anterior mitral valve leaflet" was invented by Wassef Karrowni (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) and Mirna Karouni (Iowa City, Iowa).

According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "The disclosed apparatus, systems and methods relate to an anterior mitral valve leaflet laceration catheter. The catheter has a plurality of lumens so as to allow for the introduction of the device via a guide wire, the inflation of a balloon and the manipulation of an introducer having a curved distal end cutting portion that can be rotated into a charged position...