Lower Body Negative Pressure Devices (LBNPD) were first designed by NASA. They discovered that Astronauts had often lost their ability to walk when they returned to Earth. This was because in space, the lack of gravity lead to reduced blood circulation to the arms and legs.
In 1999, based on LBNPD, the principles of Intermittent Vacuum Therapy (IVT) as implemented with the Vacumed, were developed for Earth-bound patients in collaboration with the German Space Agency. Since then, IVT has been used to great effect, Worldwide. NOW for the first time, also available in Cape Town!
The Importance of Smooth Flow
In it's exquisite complexity, the human body has often been compared to a well-oiled machine. As we try to cope with the demands of living from day to day, we make intense use of the 'machine'. But we sometimes forget the bit about 'well-oiled'. And - as with any beautiful machine - abuse without the necessary care and maintenance, will inevitably lead to break-downs.
So, how do we keep our 'machines' well-oiled and healthy?
First and foremost is to keep the blood flowing smoothly.
Blood is an amazing substance! It not only carries the fuel -usually glucose, sometimes ketones - which we require to burn for energy, but also the significant amounts of oxygen this 'burning' process called oxidation (oxy-dation: get it?), requires. [Here's a thought- what might happen if we put enriched amounts of oxygen into the fuel tank of a machine?]
The blood even transports the 'tools' from the human maintenance and repair kit to wherever they may be needed. These 'tools' include all the nutrients and enzymes required for biochemical reactions, repair and reproduction to occur at cellular level.
The 'toolkit' also includes the various factors of the clotting cascade - each of which is required at a precise moment - AND ONLY THEN - to enable a clot to form. Clots repair damage to vessel walls and other tissue, thereby preventing loss of blood or loss of bodily integrity.
It does not end there. Blood also carries messenger substances throughout the body and it regulates and maintains pH, hydration, temperature and many other balances which are crucial to the 'well-oiled' functioning of our 'machine'.
The continuous, smooth flow of fresh blood to the tissues and cells is therefore of health-or-disease and even life-or-death importance!
Why does the smooth flow matter? Imagine a river carrying silt after heavy rains - if the smooth flow is slowed down or becomes disturbed, the silt will be deposited as sediment. Likewise, the blood is carrying blood cells, nutrients, hormones, enzymes and many other particles. ANY change in the flow of blood can cause the particles to be 'deposited' and blood clots to form. This can be, for example due to:
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Long periods of inactivity which may cause mechanical constriction on specific vessels (e.g. After an operation, illness, long hours of sitting such as travel or office work)
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Damage to vessel walls (broken bones, inflammation, injury, arteriosclerosis),
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Dehydration (too little water in the blood to carry all the dissolved materials), viscosity
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Narrowing of blood vessels due to ageing, illness, plaque,
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Damage to red blood cells which trigger the immune (clotting) response
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Inherited clotting disorder, auto-immune condition, certain medications
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And many more
Poor blood perfusion (distribution) to any part of the body may result in such conditions as peripheral arterial disease (PAD), claudication, chronic wounds, ischemia (including acute limb ischemia and heart attack), ED, DVT, dementia/stroke and of course problems related to diabetes such as poor eyesight, kidney failure and gangrene.
Fig 2: The blood is pumped to the cells & extremities by the heart. Venous return and Lymph flow together, return the blood into circulation
When our machine is well-oiled, the heart pumps about 5-6 litres of blood per MINUTE into the arteries. Once the blood reaches the capillaries, blood pressure causes about 20 litres of the nutrient rich plasma to move out of the capillaries into the inter-cellular matrix per day. Only about 17 litres of this fluid is reabsorbed directly into the veins, for return to the heart. The remaining 3 litres - carrying metabolic waste products, fragments of recycled cells, fragments of destroyed pathogens and other toxins must be removed by the lymphatic vessels.
If the removal of lymph does not occur effectively, metabolic waste collects in the inter-cellular matrix (rise in pH, cramps, pain, inefficient biochemical processes, weakened immune response, etc) and oedema (swelling of the affected body part).
Fig 3: The Vacumed implements Intermittent Vacuum Therapy by alternating Negative pressure with normal atmospheric pressure in the metal tube. Completely non-invasive and painless, the Vacumed has almost 30 years of proven, AWESOME results to back it up!
Vacumed Flow Regeneration System
This is where the Vacumed comes in. With its varying programs of alternating negative pressure and normal atmospheric pressure, it acts like an external heart.
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Negative pressure draws fresh blood into the legs and lower abdomen.
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This provides enhanced amounts of nutrients and oxygen.
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Research has shown, that it also induces shear forces on the blood vessels, causing them to secrete NO which relaxes blood vessel walls and improves blood flow.
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Research also indicates that both granulation (which is the process required to initiate the closure of open wounds) and capillarisation (the formation of new capillaries around an area not receiving sufficient blood) are greatly enhanced
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Normal, atmospheric pressure has been shown to enhance the venous return of blood to the heart AND improve lymphatic drainage significantly.
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This leads to improved removal of metabolic waste and toxins, which assists in creating and maintaining an optimal inter-cellular matrix environment
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Oedema is decreased, the immune system is stimulated
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Sports people benefit from the faster elimination of lactic acid and creatine kinase from the blood after intense exercise
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Varicose and spider veins are greatly improved (more efficient waste removal)
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The combined effect of IVT is Flow Regeneration. The results speak for themselves - chronic wounds begin to close, injuries are rehabilitated more efficiently, peripheral neuropathy and amputations due to gangrene can be avoided, varicose veins and oedema are greatly improved, people suffering from debilitating cardiovascular conditions can begin to walk and exercise once more.
Fig 4: Image of an acute ischemia (left). This patient was scheduled for amputation. With kind permission from our Vacumed colleagues in Croatia.
The image on the right shows the capillarisation which occurred after 30 Vacumed sessions.
Due to the Vacumed and the patient's discipline and co-operation, the patient was spared an amputation and is now walking 4,5km daily!
The Vacumed Flow Regeneration System can also help YOU to 'Go with the Flow' and keep your beautiful 'machine' well-oiled and running smoothly.
References (amongst others )
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Campisi CC, Ryn M, Campisi CS, Di Summa P, Boccardo F, Campisi C. INTERMITTENT NEGATIVE PRESSURE THERAPY IN THE COMBINED TREATMENT OF PERIPHERAL LYMPHEDEMA. Lymphology. 2015 Dec;48(4):197-204. PMID: 27164765.
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Fonda, B., and Sarabon, N. (2015). Effects of Intermittent Lower-Body Negative Pressure on Recovery After Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance 10, 5, 581-586, available from: < https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2014-0311> [Accessed 01 January 2024]
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Akbari A, Moodi H, Ghiasi F, Sagheb HM, Rashidi H. Effects of vacuum-compression therapy on healing of diabetic foot ulcers: randomized controlled trial. J Rehabil Res Dev. 2007;44(5):631-6. doi: 10.1682/jrrd.2007.01.0002. PMID: 17943674.
