ArtAssist Arterial Pump Review: How It Works & Who It’s For | San Diego DPM
The ArtAssist® by ACI Medical
The device built from the ground up for arterial disease — and why the speed of its squeeze is the key to everything.
By Dr. Philip Wrotslavsky, DPM, FACFAS · Advanced Foot & Ankle Center of San Diego
Not all compression pumps are arterial pumps. For decades, compression therapy has been used primarily for venous conditions — swollen legs, lymphedema, blood clot prevention. These venous pumps are very effective at what they do. But they were not designed to restore arterial blood flow to a critically ischemic limb.
The ArtAssist®, developed by ACI Medical, was built from the ground up with a specific mission: to increase arterial blood flow. It was created by vascular surgeons, informed by research into the cellular biology of blood vessel healing, and has been in clinical use since 1998 — longer than any comparable arterial compression device on the market.
What Makes ArtAssist® Different: The Speed of the Squeeze
The defining feature of the ArtAssist® is how fast its cuffs inflate. In the current generation — using what ACI Medical calls EndoShear™ Technology — the cuffs go from zero to full pressure in under 300 milliseconds. That is less than one-third of a second.
Most pneumatic compression pumps use a small electric pump that slowly fills air chambers. The ArtAssist® stores compressed air in a high-pressure reservoir that is constantly refilled, allowing it to release pressure nearly instantaneously — like an air gun versus a water pistol. The stored energy is released all at once, not gradually built up.
What the Research Shows
A landmark study in JAMA Surgery followed 14 consecutive patients with critically ischemic legs who were unsuitable for surgical revascularization — exactly the population typically told there are no options left. After 3 months of ArtAssist® therapy, a significant reduction in limb loss was observed versus a placebo group, with measurable improvement in toe pressures and clinical symptoms.
Adaptive pressure function — the device learns your individual physiology over time and fine-tunes each compression pulse to optimize the shear stress stimulus for your specific tissue.
Under-300ms inflation and deflation — faster than any prior generation, maximizing nitric oxide release per cycle.
FDA 510(k) compliant and patent-pending technology. The device looks and operates the same as prior models — the improvements are under the hood.
Higher shear stress generation — targeting arteriogenesis more aggressively, particularly for patients with critical limb ischemia.
Who Is ArtAssist® Best For?
Active deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or suspected blood clot · Pulmonary embolism · Acute, rapidly worsening arterial blockage · Active uncontrolled infection in the leg · Severe decompensated congestive heart failure. Discuss these with your physician before starting any compression therapy.
Patient FAQ
In my practice, the ArtAssist® is my first choice when the goal is long-term limb salvage in a patient who cannot have surgery. Its 25-year research track record, the confirmation of actual new vessel growth on imaging, and the endothelial shear stress mechanism give me confidence that consistent use is doing something biological — not just managing symptoms. For diabetic patients with arterial foot ulcers, this device has helped us avoid amputations that previously seemed inevitable.
Double Board-Certified Foot & Ankle Surgeon · CEO & Medical Director, Advanced Foot and Ankle Center of San Diego
