FlowOx™ is a Pulsating Negative Pressure Therapy

1. FlowOx™ is a revolutionary new technology for the treatment of reduced peripheral micro circulation.

2. The FlowOx™ technology is based on a tested and gentle intermittent negative pressure/vacuum technology.

3. Unlike other vacuum therapies, FlowOx™ is simple to use and cost effective. It is designed for patients to operate in their own homes.

1. FlowOx™ works by “exercising” the peripheral blood circulation.

2. Through repeating shifts between a light negative pressure (-40 mm Hg) and normal atmospheric pressure, the natural dynamics and function of the vascular system is exercised. Everything from the small arteries to the capillaries in the outer layers of the skin experience the fluctuations and thereby improving supply of oxygen and nutrients which is essential for restoring and maintaining normal function of the skin and musculature.

3. FlowOx™ thus addresses the underlying problems behind poor peripheral micro circulation and not just the symptoms caused by lack of micro-circulation.

FlowOx™ is indicated for the treatment of the following conditions in adults (over 18 years of age):

a) Peripheral arterial disease (PAD)
b) Diabetic and non-diabetic arteriophatic foot- and leg ulcers
c) Intermittent claudication and rest pain
d) Foot and lower leg ulcers of mixed aetiology associated with immobility such as paraplegia following spinal injury

1. Reduced micro circulation can lead to lack of nutrition, oxygenation, and reduced removal of metabolites from the tissue which may lead to:

a) Ischemic pain
b) Poor oxygenation which leads to reduced local immune function and thereby increased risk of infections
c) Lack of oxygenation, which also leads to reduced ability to produce collagen and thereby limits the tissue’s ability to heal itself. Collectively, this reduces the body’s ability to form new blood vessels and its ability to heal wounds.

2. Over time, the condition will become chronic and progressive, increasing the need for long term pain management, wound healing, and palliative care.

3. The condition often deteriorates to a stage where amputation is unavailable.

1. Chronically poor peripheral circulation has a significant and accelerating negative impact on patients’ quality of life.

2. A major reason for the poor quality of life for this type of patient is due to limited options for treatment (often limited to palliative care).

3. The financial burden of treating patients with insufficient peripheral micro circulation is extensive and increasing:

a) The annual cost of treating chronic wounds in home care amounts to NOK 100,000 per patient¹.
b) Approximately 4,000 surgical procedures (revascularizations) are performed on patients with reduced peripheral blood circulation. The number is increasing by about 5% per year.²
c) More than 800 amputations are carried out annually in Norway and the cost of this is NOK 500-800 million.³

4. It is expected that the cost as well as the societal impact of reduced quality of life due to reduced micro circulation will increase significantly with the aging population and increase in diabetes.

¹ Jorunn Hagen Rønsen; UiO 201 2:Costs for the treatment of chronic leg ulcers in home nursing.
² Wendt K, et al. BMJ Open 2017;7.
³ Otivio.

1. Home treatment. FlowOx™ is designed so that the patient can self-administer FlowOx™ at home. This will reduce the pressure on both the primary and secondary health care systems

2. FlowOx™ addresses the underlying cause – decreased micro circulation.

3. Health-economic savings

4. The use of FlowOx™ improves the individual patient’s quality of life.

Sundby, Ø., Høiseth, L., Irgens, I., Mathiesen, I., Lundgaard, E., Haugland, H., . . . Hisdal, J. (2018). Intermittent negative pressure applied to the lower limb increases foot macrocirculatory and microcirculatory blood flow pulsatility in people with spinal cord injury. Spinal Cord, 56(4).

Sundby, Ø., Høiseth, L., Mathiesen, I., Jørgensen, J., Sundhagen, J., & Hisdal, J. (2016). The effects of intermittent negative pressure on the lower extremities’ peripheral circulation and wound healing in four patients with lower limb ischemia and hard-to-heal leg ulcers: a case report. Physiological Reports, 4(20).

Sundby, Ø., Høiseth, L., Mathiesen, I., Jørgensen, J., Weedon-Fekjær, H., & Hisdal, J. (2016). Application of intermittent negative pressure on the lower extremity and its effect on macro- and microcirculation in the foot of healthy volunteers. Physiological Reports, 4(17).

Sundby, O., Høiseth, L., Mathiesen, I., Weedon-Fekjær, H., Sundhagen, J., & Hisdal, J. (2017). The acute effects of lower limb intermittent negative pressure on foot macro-and microcirculation in patients with peripheral arterial disease. PLoS ONE, 12(6).

Sundby, Ø., Irgens, I., Høiseth, L., Mathiesen, I., Lundgaard, E., Haugland, H., . . . Hisdal, J. (2018). Intermittent mild negative pressure applied to the lower limb in patients with spinal cord injury and chronic lower limb ulcers: A crossover pilot study. Spinal Cord, 56(4).

Hoel H, Høiseth LØ, Sandbæk G, Sundhagen O, Mathiesen I & Hisdal J, The acute effects of different levels of intermittent negative pressure on peripheral circulation in patients with peripheral artery disease. Physiological Reports Physiol Rep, 7 (20), 2019

Sophie M. Holder, Ellen A. Dawson, Áine Brislane, Jonny Hisdal, X Daniel J. Green, and Dick H. J. Thijssen, Fluctuation in shear rate, with unaltered mean shear rate, improves brachial artery flow-mediated dilation in healthy, young men. J Appl Physiol 126: 1687–1693, 2019