Diamond-coated crown breaks through blocked heart arteries
Diamonds are being used on the operating table to break through blocked arteries connecting to the heart. It is called the Diamondback 360, a coronary orbital atherectomy system.
After several months of living with on and off chest pains, Patsy James of Moss Bluff says they got unbearable.
"I was experiencing just excruciating chest pain, to the point that it would cut my breath off," she said.
James was referred to CHRISTUS St. Patrick Hospital interventional cardiologist, Dr. Corey Foster, who says she was a prime example of a patient with coronary artery disease, needing immediate treatment.
"If we don't intervene at an appropriate time or defer treatment to a later date inappropriately, patients tend to have worsening outcomes over time," said Dr. Foster.
Two of James' coronary arteries had calcified plaque. She needed two stents, but also needed the arteries cleared out. That is where the Diamondback 360 from Cardiovascular Systems Inc. came into play.
"It is a diamond-coated crown that's mounted on a wire, which we're able to pass into the coronary artery," said Dr. Foster. "It spins very rapidly, between 80 and 120,000 revolutions per minute."
As it spins, it breaks up the plaque into tiny particles.
"It's fine particles that do go downstream, but tend not to cause a problem, because it is just fine, particulate matter," said Dr. Foster.
The atherectomy, or plaque removal, takes about ten minutes and is done just before stent placement.
"We will usually do one to three passes in an artery," said Dr. Foster, "if we're happy with the results, then we're able to proceed as we would routinely."
James was able to go home the same day and was back to regular activities by the week's end. She says she is relieved she listened to her body, knowing now it was telling her about a potentially serious problem with her heart.
"Never ignore your body," said James. "I don't care what anyone tells you, I don't care what your doctor tells you. Never ignore your body, because nobody knows your body like you do."
The diamond-coated crown on the Diamondback 360 is only 1.25 millimeters in size.
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