Would you let a surgeon aim a laser at your heart? The idea might be enough to give some patients palpitations. But Cardiogenesis, a medical device company that develops tools for the treatment of ischemic cardiac disease, has helped numerous heart-disease patients with the use of laser therapy.
One of the most common symptoms of coronary artery disease (CAD) is angina pectoris, or chest pain. Angina pectoris, which affects over 10 million Americans, occurs when blood flow to the heart is decreased due to CAD. According to the American Heart Association, angina is a sign of increased risk for heart attack, cardiac arrest, and sudden cardiac death.
Patients suffering from CAD and associated angina have several treatment options, including lifestyle changes combined with drug therapy, percutaneous coronary intervention such as stents, or coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. However, some patients are not eligible for these therapies or would be inadequately served by them. Patients in these categories may benefit from transmyocardial revascularization (TMR), a procedure in which a low-powered Holmium AG laser is used to create new channels for blood flow in the heart.
While the patient is under general anesthesia, a small incision is made in the ribs. Approximately 20 to 40 new channels are made in the heart muscle using the laser. The new channels seal over quickly and allow fresh blood to flow into the heart wall. According to the company, the majority of patients who undergo TMR therapy experience a significant reduction of angina symptoms over time. Over 45,000 patients have undergone TMR therapy to date.
Cardiogenesis is based in Irvine, Calif. Its products include Solargen 1200, a portable and complete TMR delivery system; and two minimally invasive delivery tools, including an FDA-approved device that is designed for compatibility with Intuitive Surgical’s daVinci robotic surgery system. The company plans to initiate a U.S. clinical trial for its Phoenix Combination Delivery System, which is designed to deliver laser TMR therapy and injections of biologic or pharmalogic agents to predetermined areas of the heart.
Cardiogenesis is scheduled to present at the January 2011 OneMedForum conference in San Francisco. Attendees will have the opportunity to view investor presentations and sit down with executives from a wide variety of emerging growth healthcare companies. Visit http://www.onemedplace.com/forum to learn more about the OneMedForum San Francisco 2011.