Shock Waves to Grow New Blood Vessels in the Heart
June 15, 2010 | Terry Sharrer
Cardiologists at the Mayo Clinic aren’t sure why acoustic waves initiate a wound-healing process, but nevertheless they are testing a shockwave device made by a Germantown, MD company, Medispec, and have had very positive results. Around 70% of ischemic heart patients have shown between sixty and seventy percent improvement in blood flow, though there are only 15 patients in the trial. In Europe and Canada the technology has been used successfully with about 1,000 patients, but long term success requires diet and exercise regimes to take full advantage. MORE