Described herein is a method for creating a channel through a foreign material located in a body of a patient. The foreign material defines a material first surface and a substantially opposed material second surface and the channel extends through the foreign material between the material first and second surfaces. The method uses an apparatus including an electrode, and includes the steps of: positioning the electrode substantially adjacent to the material first surface energizing the electrode with a radiofrequency current and using the electrode energized with the radiofrequency current to deliver energy into the foreign material to create the channel. In some embodiments, the patients body includes a heart defining a septum, the septum defines an aperture extending there-through and the foreign material extends across the aperture to cover the aperture.
