Dr. Damore begins by using a small, 1.5 millimeter tip on the rotoblator. Spinning at 160,000 revolutions a minute, the rotoblator bores through the hardened deposits. The very fine material that is produced by the drilling action is carried away as the blood flows through the vein. A 1.75 or 2.0 millimeter tip is used next to expand the opening. After the rotoblator technique carefully clears the deposits away, a very small flexible metal tube, called a stent, is inserted into the artery using a balloon catheter.
Coronary arteries are vitally important to the human body.
When they are blocked, the reduced blood supply can cause chest pain and increase the likelihood of a heart attack, points out Dr. Damore. Thanks to the rotoblator technique, patients now have another option to choose from when it comes to treating arterial blockages.