Beat-to-beat blood pressure monitoring was used to assess the efficacy of reflex-mediated, calf muscle pump stimulation to enhance cardiovascular refilling in subjects in the supine and seated positions, with extension of this stimulation technology to dialysis evaluated in 2 dialysis patients. Micromechanical stimulation (50 μm at 45 Hz) of the plantar surface was found to significantly increase both the rate and volume of cardiovascular refilling relative to that observed for subjects in the supine position. During hemodialysis, calf muscle pump stimulation permitted significantly increased ultrafiltrate removal, specifically from 78 to 96% of clinical goal, while serving to maintain both blood pressure and blood volume.
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