Health Technology Assessment of IPC in Ireland is Challenged by Surgeon

ArtAssist Device collateral artery growth

ArtAssist®…The Arterial Assist Device®

Intermittent pneumatic compression (referred to as IPC)

As a pioneering technology, ArtAssist®…The Arterial Assist Device® faces resistance in the medical community at large. In this case, Ireland’s Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) cites the “lack of high quality, reliable evidence to support the widespread adoption of this technology” in its Health Technology Assessment (HTA).

The ArtAssist® device has been clinically shown to drastically improve circulation in patients with limb-threatening ischemia, a result of advanced peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Many doctors, including Mr. Sultan at the Galway Clinic, prescribe ArtAssist® device therapy to patients who are not candidates for surgical intervention.

Understandably, doctors responsible for the well-being of their patients may be skeptical of new technologies such as IPC to treat PAD. The fact remains, however, that the only “widespread” course of action after failed attempts at revascularization is amputation of the limb. Since PAD often affects the aged population, the aftermath of amputation can be extremely detrimental to a patient’s quality of life in addition to being a financial burden on the state.

Mr. Sultan, in response to the HTA report:

Mr. Sherif Sultan, Galway Consultant Vascular and Endovascular Surgeon

“The question is, is it a safe procedure, does it save limbs, does it decrease pain and does it control ulcers? The answer in all these cases is yes.”

Mr. Sultan continues to say that he has saved over 500 limbs with this IPC technology over the past eight years, which would have otherwise been scheduled for amputation. Furthermore, numerous studies on this device have been published in Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, a peer reviewed medical journal. The cost of renting the machine for three months is comparable to one night in a hospital bed.

To read the article in full, please visit: http://www.imt.ie/news/latest-news/2013/07/hta-on-ipc-is-challenged-by-surgeon.html?doing_wp_cron

Jul 15, 2013 By acimedical ArtAssist®...The Arterial Assist Device®, PAD

Taiwanese PAD patients have improved quality of life & better walking distances in this new IPC study

Unlike other studies for the ArtAssist® device, these researchers examined the effects of intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC)

ArtAssist Arterial Assist Device IPC therapy

ArtAssist®…The Arterial Assist Device®

therapy on PAD patients suffering from infrapopliteal diffuse or multiple segmental lesions and who were at risk of amputation.

Click here to view the abstract.

Patients were separated into study (n=23) and control (n=8) groups and were given the following tests before and after the study period:

6-minute walking test to examine claudication distance.
Results: duration and initial and absolute claudication distances significantly increased in study group
Transcutaneous oxygen tension (TcPO2).
Results: significantly increased in distal end of target limb after IPC therapy
Quality of Life (Short-Form 36 questionnaire):
Results: significant changes in physical functioning, physical and emotional role functioning, bodily pain, and general and mental health after IPC therapy

The study group received ArtAssist® device therapy for three months, three hours per day. The ArtAssist® device rapidly compresses the foot, ankle, and calf at 120 mmHg approximately every 17 seconds. The rapid inflation and deflation of the cuffs is instrumental to the arteries’ vasodilation.

The significant improvements in walking distance, oxygen levels, and quality of life show both medical and lifestyle benefits for patients who are not candidates for surgical intervention.

To read more about the clinical trials conducted with ArtAssist®…The Arterial Assist Device®, please visit the Clinical Studies Page.

Jul 11, 2013 By acimedical ArtAssist®...The Arterial Assist Device®, PAD

Abstract: “How The ArtAssist Pneumatic Compression Device Can Heal Ulcers From CLI & Relieve Rest Pain Noninvasively”

The abstract “How The ArtAssist Pneumatic Compression Device Can Heal Ulcers From Critical Limb Ischemia And Relieve Rest Pain Noninvasively” presented by Prof. Andrew Nicolaides, MS, FRCS at VEITHsymposium 2012 is now available for download from the VEITHsymposium website. We have also included it on our References/Clinical Studies page.

Enjoy! http://www.veithsymposium.org/abstracts/vei/208.pdf

ArtAssist®…The Arterial Assist Device®

Dec 12, 2012 By acimedical ArtAssist®...The Arterial Assist Device®

Big meetings this week: Desert Foot & VEITHsymposium™

Starting tomorrow, two very important meetings will kick off and experts from ACI Medical will be attending both of them.

If you are attending Desert Foot 2012, the 9th Annual High Risk Diabetic Foot Conference, be sure to attend the 20 minute presentations given by Dr. Darwin Eton (University of Chicago) and Dr. Paul van Bemmelen (Temple University). Both will be talking about how pneumatic compression therapy with arterial pump technology can prevent amputations in non-reconstructible limbs. Both have extensive experience using the ArtAssist® device in a clinical setting.

Here is when you can hear them talk:

Paul van Bemmelen, MD
Wednesday, November 14 from 2:10 PM to 2:30 PM “Pneumatic Compression for Non-Reconstructible PAD”

Darwin Eton, MD
Thursday, November 15 from 5:45 PM to 6:05 PM “Combined Cell Therapy and Pneumatic Compression to Treat Limb Ischemia”

VEITHsymposium™ 2012 will be featuring Professor Andrew Nicolaides of the Imperial College of London. He has been invited to discuss non-reconstructible limb salvage using arterial pump technology during a 5 minute talk on Friday, November 16 from 6:46 AM to 6:51 AM (don’t forget to drink your coffee – hearing him talk is always a treat!). Professor Nicolaides has clinical experience with the ArtAssist® device as well.

As pioneers of ArtAssist®…The Arterial Assist Device® technology, we at ACI Medical invite and encourage you to contact us with your questions about anything from the device’s science to ordering one for your patient:
(888) 453-4356 or info@acimedical.com

Nov 13, 2012 By acimedical ArtAssist®...The Arterial Assist Device®, Diabetic Foot, PAD

Peripheral Arterial Disease won’t wait ’til next September – keep your education going!

Just because PAD Awareness Month is over doesn’t mean the disease won’t persist. I’m glad there’s a month dedicated to PAD education – this means that from now on, you can carry on everything you learned and share this invaluable knowledge with those around you. Last month was also a reminder to me what an important role prevention plays; that diseases like PAD won’t stop to let their victims try to figure out what’s going on.

On that note, I’d like to thank all those on Twitter who have participated with the effort by sharing their expertise and their resources, as well as including my two cents on the big conversation. I learned a lot!

If September was not enough to get your fill of PAD education, take a look through our dedicated category, where you’ll find articles written by yours truly in regards to the ArtAssist® Arterial Assist Device® and links to various experts who deal with the many complications of PAD.

Have a great day and STAY INFORMED!

All the best,

Diana

Oct 2, 2012 By acimedical PAD

We like the idea of taking care of feet, and so does LER Online Magazine!

In this month’s issue of Lower Extremity Review, our own ArtAssist® device was featured as one of many products for lower extremity health.

Check it out by going to this link: http://www.lowerextremityreview.com/products/artassist-compression

Sep 26, 2012 By acimedical ArtAssist®...The Arterial Assist Device®

“Rapid” compression technique to treat PAD

Rapid Compression: How Fast is Fast Enough?

Compression pump systems for peripheral arterial disease treatment and wound care are becoming more and more popular these days. As more people seek treatment for conditions caused by poor circulation, the number of cases contraindicated for surgical intervention also rises. So, to find an alternative to amputation, some medical device makers are advertising their pumps as a solution.

In general, here’s what you’ll see:

Cuffs/sleeves: can cover the foot & calf or just the calf
Pressure: 90 – 120 mmHg

Here’s a secret, though: most of these “arterial pumps” are nothing but DVT prophylaxes or lymphedema pumps that are modified to exert more pressure. Minor adjustments such as these have been largely untested in a clinical setting and therefore yield fairly unpredictable results.

ACI Medical is the only device maker to have uncovered the most important aspect of compression therapy as a means of treating PAD: rapid compression (under 0.5 seconds) that serves as a close physiological substitute for brisk walking.

Unlike all other compression pumps, ACI Medical’s ArtAssist® Arterial Assist Device® was engineered on the premise of understanding the underlying physiology of increasing arterial blood flow and focusing on results that will benefit patients with critical limb ischemia. Since developers and researchers understood how important exercise was for patients with arterial disease, they engineered a device that would bring the important physiological benefits of walking to patients with limited mobility.

Early physiological studies led by Dr. Paul van Bemmelen, Professor Andrew Nicolaides, and others showed a great understanding of the vascular system of the legs. When we exercise, our calf muscles push blood rapidly through the veins to the heart where it can be recycled and directed back towards the leg muscles with essential nutrients. Therefore, in patients who have difficulty walking, it was essential to emulate the calf muscle’s role in pumping blood without having the patient do exercise.

So, when a patient uses the ArtAssist® device, it is as if the device system is “walking” for them. Patients do not experience pain and, over a period of about three months, benefits become long-term.

The real experts on Arterial Pump Technology are only a click or call away. Email info@acimedical.com or call toll free (888) 4 LEG FLO

Relevant clinical trials using the ArtAssist® device:

Rapid Intermittent Compression Increases Skin Circulation in Chronically Ischemic Legs with Infra-popliteal Arterial Obstruction.
van Bemmelen, P.S.; Weiss-Olmanni, J. and Ricotta, J.J. Div. of Vascular Surgery, State University of New York, Stony Brook.
VASA 2000;29:47-52

The Contributions of Arterial and Venous Volumes to Increased Cutaneous Blood Flow During Leg Compression. Eze, A.R.; Cisek, P.L.; Holland, B.S.; Comerota, A.J. Jr.; Veeramasuneni, R.; and Comerota, A.J. Philadephia, Pennsylvania, Charlotte and Gastonia, North Carolina. Annals of Vascular Surgery, 1998;12:182-186

Effects of Intermittent Pneumatic Compression of the Calf and Thigh on Arterial Calf Inflow: A Study of Normals, Claudicants, and Grafted Arteriopaths. Delis, K.T.; Husmann, J.W.; Cheshire, N.J.; and Nicolaides, A.N. Imperial College School of Medicine, St. Mary’s Hospital, London, UK. Surgery, 2000, Vol. 129, No. 2, p. 188-195

Sep 25, 2012 By acimedical ArtAssist®...The Arterial Assist Device®, PAD

Diabetic foot education is closer than you think – go to your community’s website to find events

Diabetic Foot Health: Keeping You On Your Feet

THURSDAY, OCT 25 10:00A TO 11:45A

at Carlsbad Senior Center, Carlsbad, CA

People with diabetes must be aware of how to prevent foot problems before they occur. Judy Greenhaw, RN, will discuss how to examine your own feet and recognize the early signs and symptoms of diabetic foot problems, know when to call the doctor, and how to recognize when a problem has become serious enough to seek emergency treatment.

Read the rest via Talks & Lectures: Diabetic Foot Health: Keeping You On Your Feet at Carlsbad Senior Center on 10/25/12 – UTSanDiego.com.

Diana’s note: If you want to learn more about serious health concerns, sometimes it’s worth it to take a look at your community calendar. Or, if you’re just not into scouring the Internet for local events that, quite frankly, don’t normally jump out and announce themselves if you have the inkling to start looking, here’s a tip: set up alerts on a reader! For example, since I have a Gmail account, I use the Google Reader to alert me when terms like “diabetic foot ulcer” and “peripheral arterial disease” pop up on the web (hint: this is where I get a lot of blog content to talk about). I find educational articles, news, and local events for screenings every single day.

So get out there and educate yourself! You won’t have to go far.

Speaking of not going far, take a look at our blogroll for the ArtAssist® device. You’ll quickly discover that it’s not just a machine – it’s a renewed sense of hope for patients whose limbs are threatened by severe arterial disease.

Thanks for reading! If you’re enjoying this content, please share it with your friends.

– Diana

Sep 20, 2012 By acimedical Diabetic Foot

Dr. Paul van Bemmelen talks about treating PAD without surgery on eHealth Radio

Just in time for PAD Awareness Month is an interview by the very kindly Eric Michaels on the eHealth Radio podcast, “ArtAssist treatment helps poor circulation with Dr. Paul van Bemmelen“.

For being only 7 minutes long, this interview covers a lot of ground with the ArtAssist® device in a way that only Dr. van Bemmelen, as a key developer, can articulate. Listeners from all walks of life can learn a little bit from him as he exposes the harsh (yet unfortunately common) realities that patients with non-surgical PAD endure and more importantly, what your doctor can do to help you.

Excerpt:

Now, you have developed a device with ACI Medical to assist the arteries with the circulation called the ArtAssist®. What is it and how does that work?

Humans are unique because we are upright, and as long as we keep moving, our leg muscles are squeezing the blood back to the heart and assist in the circulation work. But modern humans are typically not active enough. The ArtAssist® is essentially a strong massage device that people can use at home. It obtains the good effects of walking – that is, increased blood flow – without the bad effects of walking, such as the need for more oxygen in the leg muscles with more pain. Also, real walking can worsen the friction between the skin and the shoes, which causes problems in diabetes.

So go ahead and tune in! You definitely won’t be sorry you did.

Visit the eHealth Radio website to gain access to this interview and many more health-related topics, or click here to open the media player.

Also be sure to check out Dr. van Bemmelen’s most recent article for faim.org, “Walking therapy and pneumatic compression: the natural cures for poor leg circulation”

Thanks! I hope you enjoy listening!

Sep 18, 2012 By acimedical ArtAssist®...The Arterial Assist Device®, PAD

“Walking Therapy and Pneumatic Compression: The Natural Cures for Poor Leg Circulation” | Paul van Bemmelen, MD, PhD, FACS

You’ve already seen Dr. Steven Kavros’ article on pneumatic compression device therapy published on faim.org (the Foundation for Alternative and Integrative Medicine).

But just released is yet another article on pneumatic compression therapy with an emphasis on its natural approach to healing non-reconstructable PAD (peripheral arterial disease) patients. This time, FAIM.org is featuring Dr. Paul van Bemmelen, one of the very few vascular surgeons who have conducted the most advanced investigations into the capabilities of arterial pump technology for non-surgical patients with poor leg circulation.

Here is an excerpt from Dr. van Bemmelen’s latest article:

“Because healthcare providers are paid much more for invasive procedures, our healthcare system currently favors costly procedures as the primary solution for circulation problems. In Ireland, a study on 171 patients treated with the compression device, found a savings of about 1.5 million Euros compared to cost of amputation for a matched group of patients.”

In addition, this article gives insight into the origins of compression therapy and why previous attempts at treating PAD with with it had been largely unsuccessful prior to the development of the ArtAssist® device, technology to which Dr. van Bemmelen himself contributed a significant amount of his vascular expertise.

ArtAssist® Arterial Pump Technology is the pioneer for non-invasive intermittent pneumatic compression therapy. By mimicking the benefits of the most natural way of fighting arterial disease, this treatment is proven to provide long-term relief for patients suffering from poor circulation.

Look for the full article on faim.org!

Sep 7, 2012 By acimedical ArtAssist®...The Arterial Assist Device®, PAD