Angina is a coronary heart disease and can now be treated successfully with balloon dilatation, stent implantation, bypass surgery and medication.

Despite optimal treatment, some patients have persistent symptoms that can reduce their quality of life considerably. Even at rest or with little physical exertion, these patients suffer from chest pain, chest tightness or shortness of breath.

Implantation of a reducer to create a narrowing of the coronary sinus produces a back pressure that dilates the capillaries and thereby reduces resistance to blood flow.

After 4-6 weeks, the reducer is incorporated into the endothelial tissue, narrowing the coronary sinus to a diameter of 3 mm.

This normalises the pressure ratios in epicardial and endocardial blood flow, the chest pain subsides and other improvements are seen.

In Switzerland, the reducer is already being successfully implanted.