For physicians who are considering prescribing intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) therapy for a patient with PAD, this slideshow provides ACI Medical's expertise on IPC devices and what you should look for if you want to EFFECTIVELY treat arterial disease of the lower extremity. Remember: not all IPC devices were created equal!

1. Intermittent Pneumatic
Compression Therapy
For treating peripheral arterial disease (PAD)

2. Before you read on…
 Arterial IPC therapy requires a doctor’s prescription.
 Such IPC devices can have life-changing benefits for
non-surgical patients with PAD. Over the course of a
few months, physician-directed use of an arterial IPC
device can save limbs from amputation.
 This is not a guide to be used as medical advice, but as
experts in this technology, we’d like to share what we
know about arterial compression devices so you and
your patient can make a more educated decision.

3. Aspects to consider before
prescribing an arterial IPC
device

4. 1. Cuff Specifications
 The compression cuff ’s air
bladders should cover as
Large air much tissue below the knee as
bladders
compress possible. This will promote
most of the more skin blood flow.
foot, ankle &
calf  Also, note that the size of the
air bladders is relative to the
amount of circulation. The
bigger, the better.

5. Cuff Inflation & Deflation Rates
 Research shows that quick inflation and deflation rates
(under 0.5 sec) are of highest importance because they apply
shear stress to the endothelium. Under shear stress,
endothelial cells release a vasodilator (nitric oxide) that helps
open the smallest arteries. With continued use over
approximately 3 months, collateral vessels form. The
process activated is arteriogenesis.
ArtAssist® “Brand B”
Inflation & Deflation Foot
rate comparisons Calf ArtAssist® “Brand B”

6. Cuff Pressure
 Now you know that cuffs
should have large bladders at
the foot, ankle & calf and that Cuff Pressures
they should inflate and deflate 200
quickly. But what kind of
150
pressure should the air
bladders reach? 100
Pressure in
50 mmHg
The answer that researchers 0
found was 120 mmHg. Below
Not Just Too
this pressure, blood flow was Enough Right Much!
not as high. Above 120 mmHg
was unnecessary and,
furthermore, uncomfortable for
patients.

7. 2. Depth of Clinical Research
 Make sure the device you
prescribe has clinical research
supporting its claims.
 Not only can arterial IPC devices
improve claudication
distances, but their regular use
can also result in limb salvage.
 Ask the developer which kinds
of trials have been done on their
own arterial IPC device.

8. On that note:
 Being optimized to treat arterial disease is of the utmost
importance for an arterial IPC device. Research has suggested
that if a pump is NOT optimized for arterial disease, using it
could actually DECREASE blood flow – doing more harm
than good!
 It is well worth the extra few moments to consider the
following, as it may impact the treatment’s efficacity: did the
makers of this arterial pump design it specifically to treat
arterial disease or is it simply a modified lymphedema/DVT
prevention pump? And was it tested at medical institutions
with results published in peer-reviewed journals?
Call up the device’s developer.
Straight answers are the best.

9. 3. Good Customer Experience?
 The compliance factor
Neither the physician nor the device
distributor can make absolutely sure a
patient uses the arterial IPC device as
directed. If patient compliance is
poor, the results will be poor.
It is therefore necessary to
communicate to the patient that this
therapy presents the best chance of
limb salvage after other options have
been exhausted, but only if used as
directed.

10. Customer Experience (cont’d)
 Patient Accommodation
If a patient has a special
condition, the arterial IPC
device distributor should be
knowledgeable enough to
accommodate it so that the
patient can still undergo
effective therapy.

11. Customer Experience (cont’d)
 Obtaining Therapy
Physicians and their patients should not go through
unnecessary trouble to simply obtain a device, especially
given the time-sensitive nature of serious conditions
such as non-healing ulcers and critical limb ischemia.
Find a distributor that
makes obtaining therapy
both convenient and
fast.

12. The Device That Comes Out on
Top
 There’s only one number to call if you want to
order, prescribe, or just get more information about the
ArtAssist® device: 888 4 LEG FLO (888-453-4356)
®
ArtAssist
Arterial Pump Technology
The only device…
Optimized to treat PAD
25+ published clinical
studies

13. If it doesn’t say ArtAssist®…
it won’t work like one.
The ArtAssist® Arterial Assist Device uses a proven and
unique form of intermittent pneumatic compression to
triple arterial blood flow to ischemic limbs
Recommended Rx:
1 hour, 3 times per day for 90 days
Developer, manufacturer, and distributor of
ArtAssist® Arterial Pump Technology
Made in the USA
ArtAssist.com

14. Notable Studies Performed with the
ArtAssist® Device
 Sequential Compression Biomechanical Device in Patients
with Critical Limb Ischemia and Nonreconstructible
Peripheral Vascular Disease. Sherif Sultan, MD, et al. J Vasc
Surg 2011: 54; 440-7
 A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Limb Salvage Trial Using
the ArtAssist Pneumatic Compression Device. George
Louridas, MD. Vasc Ann Conference Philadelphia June 2006
 Angiographic Improvement after Rapid Intermittent
Compression Treatment (ArtAssist) for Small Vessel
Obstruction. Paul van Bemmelen, MD, et al. Ann Vasc Surg
2003: 17; 224-8
 The ArtAssist Device in Chronic Lower Limb Ischemia: A
Pilot Study. George Louridas, MD, et al. International Angiology
2002: 21; 28-35