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

Objective: Commercial devicesfor pneumatic compressive treatment of the limbs generally provide prede fi ned stereotyped compressive pro fi les. Thepossibility to deliver compressive stimuli with a customizable pressure pro fi le would be useful to differently probethe vascular reactivity to muscle compression ( MC ) and improve the understanding of MC-induced hyperemia. Aim ofthis study was the realization of a novel pneumatic system capableof generating adjustable and stable compressive conditions, preceding and following a ‘ standard ’ MC stimulus. Approach:A custom-made pneumatic system speci fi cally built to this purpose is tested and characterized in 10 subjects. Three different compressive patterns were delivered to the leg: ( 1 ) a constantlevel: 50 mmHg for 50 s; ( 2 ) MC:200 mmHg for 1 s; ( 3 ) a complex pro fi le: 20 mmHg for 50 s, 200 mmHg for 1 s, 50 mmHg for 50 s. Main results: The implemented system allowed to deliver graded compressions to the limb characterized by fast transitions ( 0 to 200 mmHg in 0.5 ± 0.07 s ) and stable plateau levels ( 50.4 ± 0.5 mmHg ) . Signi fi cance: 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 fi nd application in therapeutic compressive treatments