Methods and apparatus for repeated ischemic conditioning treatment of hypertension and other medical conditions

Abstract

Methods for ischemic conditioning treatments of a chronic medical condition are provided. Baseline disease-related parameters of a patient with a chronic medical condition are measured. Ischemia is induced in the patient by occluding and releasing arterial flow in one or more extremities of the patient. Post-ischemia parameters in the patient are measured. The baseline and post-ischemia parameters are compared to provide an assessment of an ischemic conditioning treatment of a chronic medical condition. The repeated, scheduled delivery of ischemic conditioning provides a beneficial, therapeutic effect on the chronic medical condition. Also provided is a device for pulse oximetry during periods of absent or low pulsatile blood flow including an artificial pulse generator as well as the use of said device in assessment of ischemic conditioning.

1 . A method for improving endurance and athletic performance by repeated, scheduled ischemic conditioning treatments comprising blood flow occlusion and reperfusion. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the program of ischemic conditioning comprises at least 2 cycles of from about 2 to about 15 minutes of occlusion on at least one extremity followed by reperfusion. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the program of ischemic conditioning comprises at least 2 cycles of from about 2 to about 5 minutes of occlusion. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the program of ischemic conditioning comprises a plurality of cycles of occlusion followed by reperfusion within 24 hours of an athletic event. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the ischemic conditioning is applied to one or more extremities using an external cuff system for arterial occlusion. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the ischemic conditioning program is personalized based on monitoring the level of ischemia. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the level of ischemia is measured using an artificial pulse oximeter. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the ischemic conditioning is applied to one or more extremities using external pressure using a pressurizable garment. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein ischemic conditioning treatments are provided during physical activity or exercise. 
     
     
         10 . A method for improving metabolic endurance and athletic performance by repeated ischemic conditioning treatments comprising:
 a) measuring one or more baseline hemodynamic parameters of a subject,   b) applying an ischemic treatment in the subject adapted to improve endurance and athletic performance by occluding and releasing arterial flow in one or more extremities of the subject on a repeated basis,   c) measuring post-ischemic parameters in the subject, and   d) comparing the baseline and post-ischemia parameters to provide an assessment of the ischemic conditioning treatment over time.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising measuring blood oxygen saturation during ischemia using an artificial pulse together with oximetry to improve assessment of the ischemic conditioning treatments. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the artificial pulse is generated by mechanical actuation. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the mechanical actuation is affected by pulsating fluid pressure in a cuff to cause mechanical disturbance of arterial blood, repetitive, external electromechanical actuation, or repetitive, self-induced physical motion. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the artificial pulse is generated by external non-mechanical optical illumination utilized to imitate the absorption patterns of a pulsatile blood flow signal by oscillating the intensity of a light source of either a single or multiple wave length. 
     
     
         15 . A metabolic endurance and athletic performance improving device comprising an external cuff system for arterial occlusion and reperfusion for repeated, ischemic conditioning treatments for improved metabolic endurance and athletic performance. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15  further comprising a pulse oximeter. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16  further comprising an artificial pulse generator wherein the pulse oximeter is adapted to measure blood oxygenation in an artificial pulse created by the artificial pulse generator. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 15  wherein a drop in finger tip skin temperature is a marker of ischemia.