This week, our STEMI team performed a first‑of‑its‑kind procedure at Peninsula University Hospital, using diamonds in surgery.
But these aren’t the kind of diamonds you wear – they’re the kind that help save lives.
Thanks to our generous donor community and funds raised by our 2025 Tax Appeal, our Cardiac Angiography Lab has received a Rotablator.
This specialised device uses a diamond‑tipped burr that spins at extremely high speed to treat blockages in coronary arteries by removing hard, calcified plaque.
Normally, placing a stent in a narrowed coronary artery is a minimally invasive procedure. A stent is inserted to hold the artery open and restore blood flow to the heart.
However, when blockages are heavily calcified (a build-up of calcium), it can be very difficult, sometimes impossible, to pass a stent through.
That’s where the Rotablator comes in: it uses a burr coated in microscopic real diamond crystals because diamonds are the hardest natural material, enabling the device to ablate tough, calcified plaque that other tools can’t treat. Preparing the artery so a stent can be safely placed.
With this device and procedure now available for patients on the Mornington Peninsula, we’re bringing advanced cardiac care closer to home. Patients no longer need to travel to the city for this treatment, improving comfort, access, and outcomes for our local community.
Interested in helping your local hospital access life-saving medical equipment? Make a donation today and help support better care for our community.