Pioneering Non-Invasive Vascular Technologies Since 1984
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ACI Medical at the 2017 SVU Vascular Annual Meeting in Lake Buena Vista, FL

The Societies for Vascular Surgery and Ultrasound Meetings from May 30 – June 1, 2013

This is one of the largest gatherings in the world of medical professionals specializing in the field of vascular medicine – and ACI Medical will be there in booth #409!vascular annual meeting san francisco

Since 1984, ACI has been immersed in the field of non-invasive vascular solutions, both diagnostic and therapeutic. Today, ACI Medical boasts unique devices that are patented and clinically supported.

ACI Medical’s Therapeutic Devices

were engineered to offer peace of mind and hope to patients suffering from non-surgical PAD and non-healing wounds, and better comfort to those with chronic venous insufficiency.

ArtAssist®...The Arterial Assist Device®VenAssist®...The Next Generation Compression Device
ArtAssist®...The Arterial Assist Device®VenAssist®...The Next Generation Compression Device
ArtAssist Arterial Assist Device VenAssist Next Generation Compression Device

ACI Medical’s Diagnostic Devices

were designed with vascular technologists in mind. Professionals using ACI Medical’s unequaled diagnostic systems can gain new insight into their patients’ conditions with equipment that is both ergonomic and intuitive.

APG® Air PlethysmographVenaPulse® Hands-Free Augmentation Device
APG® Air PlethysmographVenaPulse® Hands-Free Augmentation Device
APG Air Plethysmograph VenaPulse Hands Free Augmentation Device
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The Rapid Cuff Inflator: 4 Tips for Maximum Efficiency

The primary goal of a rapid cuff inflator is to take the unnecessary stress out of venous insufficiency studies. While the machine is fairly straightforward to use, we at ACI Medical are always looking for ways to perfect the experience for vascular sonographers.

The VenaPulse® Hands-Free Augmentation Device will give sonographers standardized augmentations. However, it is up to the sonographer to know what works best for each patient’s unique physiology and medical condition.

With this simple guide, it is our hope that sonographers will be able to increase efficiency in the exam room. We will start at the beginning, when a patient is seen and studied for the first time.

1. Matching Cuffs to Patients

The first and most important step for cutting down on exam time is to decide which cuff is best for the patient walking through the door. Is the patient’s frame small, medium or large? Which valves do you need to study? How will the patient be positioned throughout the exam? Here are short profiles on the two types of inflation cuff provided in your VenaPulse® unit:

The Blue Cuff

VenaPulse Hands-Free Augmentation Device Rapid Cuff Inflator

Technologists have the option of placing a rapid inflation cuff anywhere along the patient’s leg.

  • Widely used for any patient regardless of size
  • Wraps anywhere from above the ankle to the upper thigh
  • For use in any patient position
  • Allows sonographer to visualize valves up to and including the sapheno-femoral junction

 

 

Also included with each VenaPulse® device is a black foot inflation cuff. This cuff does what the blue inflation cuff can’t:  it allows you to study vessels just above the ankle.

The Black Foot Cuff

venapulse device rapid cuff inflator

Using the foot inflation cuff allows you to see perforators in the lower leg.

  • Best used to view perforators and valves in patients with normal- to large-sized feet
  • Ideal when patient is in relaxed reverse Trendelenburg position or standing with all weight on the non-studied leg
  • *Augmenting smaller feet may not produce adequate results due to lack of blood volume

 

 

 

 

2. Consider the Refill Time

Consider this:  the average rate for arterial blood to flow back into the legs and feet is about 1.8 mL/second in a normal person and there are about 20 cc’s of blood in the foot. When the augmented area is full of blood, you will get a nice visual in the veins. However, if you do not wait long enough for the leg/foot to refill, you may get an unsatisfactory result.

We recommend waiting at least 15 to 20 seconds between augmentations to allow the patient’s blood to fill the area once again.

3. The VenaPulse® Device is Key to Charting

Your vascular lab can help minimize the variation between studies by using a rapid cuff inflator instead of hands. Even if the same patient sees two different sonographers, you can all be confident that each augmentation performed during other exams was the same as every other.

Just take note of the pressure used and you’re all set!

4. Take Care of Yourself During Every Exam

hand augment pain

Using a foot-operated rapid cuff inflator helps you avoid hand cramps.

All people have their physical limits, and sonographers are no exception. During a long exam, does your hand begin to cramp? How does your back feel after an hour and a half of repetitive bending and twisting?

Having a foot-operated rapid cuff inflator will certainly help you be more comfortable so you can focus on the task at hand.

Mint Medical Education also has a great article about how sonographers can survive venous insufficiency exams and make the lab more ergonomically friendly.

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The VenaPulse® Device in Aesthetics News Today

This month marks the first ever issue of Aesthetics News Today. In this inaugural issue, the Product Roundup section features

venapulse hands free augmentation device aesthetics news today

The VenaPulse® device provides hands-free, standardized augmentations

the VenaPulse® Hands-Free Augmentation Device. Glenbrook Hospital Radiology Department in Evanston, Ill. and Hoag Memorial Hospital Vascular Laboratory in Newport Beach, Calif. report their experiences with the device and comment on the role it plays in their facilities.

Varicose veins due to lower limb venous reflux can be a cosmetic issue as well as the cause of discomfort in the legs. Fortunately for patients, there are many treatments available for varicose veins and they do not often require a long recovery.

However, the process for diagnosing varicose veins in the legs is often physically strenuous for vascular technologists. Testing the veins requires technologists to bend and twist into uncomfortable positions in order to squeeze the vein with one hand. This task is made more difficult while trying to maintain a good image on the ultrasound. Technologists can request a colleague to help them with the diagnosis procedure, but this arrangement can reduce productivity. Furthermore, the disadvantage to manual squeezes is the potential

varicose veins

By National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. (Varicous veins.) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

absence of consistency, which can produce inconsistent results.

According to a recent survey, 84% of diagnostic medical sonographers suffer from some sort of work-related injury.*

The VenaPulse® device provides consistent squeezes with the added benefit of improved ergonomics for technologists. By using a foot switch to operate a compression pump that inflates a wrap around the foot or ankle, the technologist can maintain a comfortable position while scanning. Use of the VenaPulse® device in the exam room reduces error and chances of injury.

*”Sonographer occupational musculoskeletal disorders:  What are they and how can they be prevented,” Sound Ergonomics, LLC and Biodex Medical Systems, Inc.


To read through Aesthetics News Today article, you can download the reprint: VenaPulse® Users Share Insights:  Considering Hands-Free vs. Manual Venous Reflux Exams?

ANT_0910-14_Vena_Pulse_HR-page-001 ANT_0910-14_Vena_Pulse_HR-page-002

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


I want a VenaPulse® device for my facility!

Venous Symposium Live Imaging

Assisted by the VenaPulse® Hands-Free Augmentation Device

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Ergonomics in the Exam Room: Preventing Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders

hand augment pain ergonomics

Bending, twisting, and hand cramps are some common precursors to MSD in medical diagnostic sonographers

When it comes to the typical vascular laboratory, one of the most dreaded tasks is the lower-extremity venous reflux exam. No matter how the patient is positioned, an RVT must either (a) strain herself to perform the augmentation, or (b) enlist the helping hand of a colleague. Both options pose different issues that can be detrimental to operations.

Ergonomic Impacts

Option A is the least ergonomic and has the potential to put the technologist out of work due to injury. Work-related musculoskeletal disorder (or MSD) is the number one cause of long-term illness absence in healthcare workers. In a survey, 84% of diagnostic medical sonographers suffer from some sort of injury. These injuries typically include carpal and cubital tunnel, epicondylitis of the elbow, neck and back strains, shoulder capsulitis, tendonitis, and tenosynovitis. Work activities known to cause MSD in sonographers include:

  • Repetitive motion
  • Forceful exertions or strain when pushing into a patient’s abdomen or compressing leg veins
  • Awkward postures or unnatural positions, commonly from reaching over patients during bedside exams

Economic Impacts

When a technologist misses work due to work-related MSD, no one wins. Economic impacts include:

  • Lost wages
  • More medical insurance claims and Worker’s Compensation claims
  • Increased sick and disability leave time
  • Compromised patient care

Option B, though it is the more ergonomic of the two given options, may not be much better. This time, the colleague helping with vein augmentations not only takes on some strain, but also becomes unavailable for her other tasks in the clinic.

Ideally, technologists should make use of lighter, more maneuverable equipment that promotes better ergonomics. For compressing leg veins during lower-extremity reflux exams, a portable, hands-free augmentation device is a recommended substitute for manual compression.

venapulse hands free augmentation device

The VenaPulse® device provides hands-free, standardized* augmentations

Sources:

Sonographer Occupational Musculoskeletal Disorders: What Are They and How Can They Be Prevented:  https://www.soundergonomics.com/pdf/Biodex.pdf

Ultrasound Ergonomics:  http://www.sdms.org/pdf/ergowhitepaper.pdf

*Prospective comparison of the pneumatic cuff and manual compression methods in diagnosing lower extremity venous reflux:  http://acimedical.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/VenaPulse-ref-2-abstract.pdf

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Now Advertising in Vein Therapy News Magazine

The April/May 2014 issue of Vein Therapy News Magazine includes an ad for the VenaPulse® Hands-Free Augmentation Device.

Please check it out and give ACI Medical a call if you are interested in trialing a unit in your facility!

Vein Therapy News VenaPulse ad

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Vascular Meeting for August 2016

ACI Medical will be exhibiting at the Society of Vascular Ultrasound in Chicago, August 11-13, 2016. Our featured vascular technologies include:

We hope to see you there!

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“What a treat!” A VenaPulse Device Experience

venapulse hands-free augmentation device foot cuffMany vascular technologists today continue to perform augmentations manually during venous reflux tests. Often times, they encounter tedious little inconveniences that make these tests drag on and on:  twisting and turning, slipping off the vein, etc. No wonder technologists dread these exams!

Leah Jolly, BS, RVT and her team at Mint Medical Education were no exception. However, Leah and her colleagues recently gave the VenaPulse Hands-Free Augmentation Device a try and they cannot wait to get one for their facility! The following is an email from Leah to ACI Medical’s VenaPulse device specialist:

Hi Lennie,

Happy New Year to you too!

My co-workers and I really enjoyed working with your device. We have been doing augmentations manually for years… what a treat to have a break from all the twisting and turning! It also seemed to shorten our exam times a bit, which was a nice bonus.

The foot cuff was VERY helpful when assessing the lower leg. I did have some difficulty adjusting it properly on patients with small feet. Otherwise, it made some of the more tedious parts of the exam fly by, knowing that we were able to get a good augmentation without slipping off the vein.

We loved the foot pedal control too – so much easier than a remote.

Our plan is to convice the boss to purchase a VenaPulse for us… Hopefully soon!

Do you think your facility could benefit from the VenaPulse device for venous reflux tests? You can give it a try for free today! ACI Medical even pays shipping. Call (888) 453-4356 or email lenniea@acimedical.com for your free trial.

Venous Symposium Live Imaging

Venous Symposium Live Imaging

Assisted by the VenaPulse® Hands-Free Augmentation Device

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Manual Augmentations vs. VenaPulse® Device – Comparing Effectiveness for Venous Reflux Exams

Many vascular technologists today use manual augmentations to perform venous reflux exams. Augmentations to the study

Venous Symposium Live Imaging Demo - Venous Reflux Exam

Assisted by the VenaPulse® Hands-Free Augmentation Device

patient’s leg are essential to the documentation of valves, but unfortunately, technologists only have two hands to operate the ultrasound machine, hold the wand to the desired location, and perform augmentations. Squeezing the patient’s leg manually can result in difficulties:

  • A technologist’s hand may become tired or sore;
  • The awkward positioning might strain a technologist’s body;
  • Divided attention and discomfort widens the possibility for error

To reduce inconsistencies and provide a more comfortable experience for vascular technologists during venous reflux exams, ACI Medical has developed a foot-operated device that performs rapid and consistent augmentations:  the VenaPulse® Hands-Free Augmentation Device. The picture on the right features Professor Nicos Labropoulos using the inflation cuff system during a demo at the Venous Symposium earlier this year. His left hand is free to operate the ultrasound. A published prospective study from 2009 compares the VenaPulse® device’s performance with traditional manual augmentations. Conclusion:  The VenaPulse® device is just as effective as doing manual augmentations during venous reflux exams.

Prospective comparison of the pneumatic cuff and manual compression methods in diagnosing lower extremity venous reflux

venapulse hands-free augmentation device foot cuff

Stavros K. Kakkos, MD, PhD, Judith C. Lin, MD, FACS, Jennifer Sparks, RVT, Melissa Telly, RVT, Michalene McPharlin, RN, RVT, and Daniel J. Reddy, MD, FACS. Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Vol. 43 No. 5: pp. 480-484. http://ves.sagepub.com

Aim

To compare pneumatic cuff with manual compression in diagnosing reflux in patients with chronic venous insufficiency (CVI).

Patients and Methods

Eighteen patients (Clinical Etiologic Anatomic Pathophysiologic [CEAP 2-5], median Venous Clinical Severity Score [VCSS 6.5]) were studied. The VenaPulse device (ACI Medical, San Marcos, California) was used for cuff inflation. The hemodynamic performance of the 2 methods was tested in the first 9 patients, while their diagnostic value was tested in the last 9 patients.

Results

Both methods induced equal compression with median peak velocity of the antegrade flow (PVA) being 86 cm/s (P=.65). Coefficient of variation (CV) for PVA in the superficial veins was significantly higher with the manual method (16.8%) compared to the VenaPulse method (9.5%, P<.001), while sensitivity and specificity were 85% and 100%, and 78% (κ .68, P<.001) and 100%, respectively.

Conclusions

Pneumatic cuff and manual compression were shown to be equally effective in diagnosing venous reflux. Cost-effectiveness and ease-of-use studies comparing these methods are justified. Keywords: vascular lab; varicose veins; pneumatic compression

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Photos from the 2013 Venous Symposium in New York

Here are some great photos of Professor Nicos Labropoulos of SUNY, one of the meeting’s Course Directors, demonstrating live venapulse hands-free augmentation device foot cuffimaging for attendees with the help of ACI Medical’s VenaPulse® device.

Professor Labropoulos regularly uses the hands-free augmentation device to make teaching less strenuous.

At the 2013 Venous Symposium, the blue inflation cuff is being used for demonstrations. Recently, work at the Oregon Institute of Technology has shown that use of a foot inflation cuff can be effective for viewing valves up to the sapheno-femoral junction. Read more on the VenaPulse® device home page.

Special thanks to Barb Gentilli for taking all the wonderful photos and to Professor Labropoulos!

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Rapid foot augmentations: A recent development in VenaPulse® Hands-Free device technology

VenaPulse Device Foot Inflation CuffRecent work at the Oregon Institute of Technology has shown that rapidly compressing the foot during venous evaluations (using the VenaPulse ®device) will give vascular technologists the ability to identify valvular reflux up through the sapheno-femoral junction.

Until recently, the VenaPulse ® Hands-Free Augmentation Device for venous evaluations has only employed an inflation cuff that wraps around the leg and must be moved each time a technologist wishes to document a different valve. While this method was already as efficient and reliable as manual augmentations*, there was still room for improvement.

Initially, the foot inflation cuff was designed to allow vascular technologists to view distal valves that could not otherwise be seen with the blue calf wrap. This changed when work at OIT discovered that the foot cuff alone was capable of giving technologists an unobstructed view of venous valves throughout the entire limb.

In short, using the VenaPulse ® device for venous evaluations is now an even more efficient and ergonomic tool for augmentations, now that adjusting the cuff is unnecessary. VenaPulse Hands-Free Augmentation Device for Venous Exams

The foot cuff itself is patented and was specifically designed to rapidly empty the foot veins proximally. The foot augmentation method was shown to be effective in all but a few patients. For this reason, the calf wrap is still available.

Give us a call or send us an email today to learn how you can obtain the VenaPulse ® device for your vascular lab:

Toll free 888-453-4356 or lenniea@acimedical.com

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