Delivery of customizable compressive patterns to human limbs to investigate vascular reactivity

Objective: Commercial devices for pneumatic compressive treatment of the limbs generally provide predefined stereotyped compressive profiles. The possibility to deliver compressive stimuli with a customizable pressure profile would be useful to differently probe the vascular reactivity to muscle compression (MC) and improve the understanding of MC-induced hyperemia. Aim of this study was the realization of a novel pneumatic system capable of generating adjustable and stable compressive conditions, preceding and following a ‘standard’MC stimulus. Approach: A custom-made pneumatic system specifically built to this purpose is tested and characterized in 10 subjects. Three different compressive patterns were delivered to the leg: (1) a constant level: 50mmHg for 50 s; (2) MC: 200mmHg for 1 s; (3) a complex profile: 20mmHg for 50 s, 200mmHg for 1 s, 50mmHg for 50 s. Main results: The implemented system allowed to deliver graded compressions to the limb characterized by fast transitions (0 to 200mmHg in 0.5±0.07 s) and stable plateau levels (50.4±0.5mmHg). Significance: A new, low-cost, pneumatic prototype has been presented and tested in the present study allowing to deliver compressive stimuli with pre-and post-compressions of adjustable level.This device has been conceived for research purposes and may find application in therapeutic compressive treatments.