Millions of people still suffer from severe angina pain despite maximum medical treatment, including surgery and medication. For many of these patients, TMR using the CO₂ Heart Laser 2 represents a new hope.

Because in some patients there are areas of the heart that cannot be treated by bypass or angioplasty, the Heart Laser may be used to create channels which may trigger an angiogenic response causing new blood vessels to grow. Studies have shown subsequent angina pain relief.^[1]

Transmyocardial Revascularization or TMR is performed using a high-energy, computer-controlled carbon dioxide (CO₂) laser. Using the laser, approximately 20 to 40 small channels, each about 1mm in diameter, are created from the outside to the inside of the heart through the wall of the left ventricle. Each channel is created in less than 50 milliseconds.

Because the procedure is performed through a small opening in the chest while the heart is beating, no heart-lung machine is required. The CO₂ Heart Laser 2 was designed to create a channel only when the heart is at rest. This is the point at which the heart is least vulnerable to arrhythmia.

More information is available through the Image Guided Cardiovascular Surgery Education Forum

Animation showing the procedure

[1] Horvath, Keith A., Circulation. 2001;104[suppl I]:I-81-I-84.