“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

The Gift of Limb Salvage: Claire’s Experience with the ArtAssist® Device

“Try it! What do you have to lose except your leg! It’s worth it and there’s absolutely no pain!” – Claire T., Tucson, AZ

ArtAssist®…The Arterial Assist Device®

As I may have mentioned before, knowing that our product changed someone’s life for the better makes all of our work WORTH IT. Claire’s life as she knew it was about to take a turn for the worse, so when her doctors recommended she try the ArtAssist® Arterial Assist Device®, she jumped at the chance.

Claire and her daughter co-wrote our staff a wonderful letter, chronicling her entire experience:

Dear Don and Sylvia,
I am helping to write this letter with my mom (Claire T. / Tucson, Arizona) to give you a little documentation how the ArtAssistDevice has helped to save her leg. Here is the time sequence:

My mom had a cadaver artery put in her right leg in order to possibly save her leg. (Advanced PAD disease). This was in March of 2011.

In early August, the cadaver artery stopped working because the smaller arteries in my mom’s feet became too narrow. No more surgery could be done. She goes on Vicodin for the pain.

Later part of August 2011, Dr. Luis L mentioned that if he could get the device, would she be willing to try it in order to save her leg. She said “YES!”

Device arrives on September 6, 2011 and she immediately uses it for 1 hour /3 times a day / 7 days a week. A lot of pain in her right leg. She is sleeping very little because of pain by the end of the second week, there is remarkable improvement. She can walk without pain in her leg for short distances and sleeps for about 4 hours before the pain returns. By the first part of October, she starts to use the device for 4 times a day. We travel to Phoenix for her grandson’s wedding and she is able to attend! Pain in the leg has diminished quite a bit but there is still tingling in the foot and toes.

By December, she gets off of pain pills and only takes Tylenol.

By the first part of January, the tingling in her toes is gone. She drops the times using the device to 3 times a day.

By February, she is walking for about ½ mile every day for about 20 minutes.

In March, the Doppler from Dr. Michael L shows her blood flow in that leg has increased quite a bit. She cuts back on the number of times per day to 1 or 2.

In late March, she develops a small but deep ulcer on her toe on her right foot. It becomes infected. (Sorry No Pictures. It was too small to show up on my camera) Dr. L is concerned that he might have to amputate it. He tells her to use the machine. She goes back to using it 1 hour 3 times per day. The toe within 2 weeks has improved dramatically so amputation is not discussed any more.

In mid June, she has another Doppler. It shows more collaterals being made and something was said that an artery that was previously blocked is no longer and he could use it in a bypass if he had to! The ulcer still has a scab but no longer hurts her.

She is currently using the machine for 1 hour/ 3 times per day. She is able to walk ½ mile daily with minimal pain. The pain comes in her calf but only lasts for 1 or 2 minutes and then she starts walking again.

If it wasn’t for your machine, the doctors have said she would have lost her leg. We believe this. We have seen it. It is a wonderful gift.

Thank you also for the wonderful customer service. You were always such a big help.

Sincerely,
Claire T.
Evelyn F.