Systems for replicating the beneficial effects of physical exercise and improving cardiovascular health

A system for inducing physiological effects of ischemic conditioning and physiological effects of electrical stimulation in a subject's body, the system comprising:

• (a) a first device configured to cause ischemia in a subject's body part;
• (b) a second device configured to cause an electrical stimulation of one or more nerves, one or more muscles, or a combination thereof;
• (c) a third device configured to monitor one or more of markers of ischemia or hemodynamic parameters such as tissue oxygenation and temperature;
• markers of metabolism including lactate, pH, oxygen, carbon dioxide, ATP, ADP, adenosine, cytochrome oxidase, redox voltage, erythropoietin, bradykinin, opioids;
• and markers of blood flow or pulse;
• or combinations thereof;
• (d) a microcontroller capable of automatically controlling a first actuator to induce ischemic condition, controlling a second actuator to electrical stimulation, and controlling a third actuator to activate a third device concurrently monitoring one or more markers of ischemia or hemodynamic markers;
• and
• (e) a first actuator to cause the first device to cause ischemia in a subject's body part for a preset duration and then stop the ischemia for a preset duration, and to repeat the ischemia and reflow periods according to a preset program;
• a second actuator to simultaneously cause the second device to electrically stimulate one or more nerves, one or more muscles, or a combination thereof, according to a preset program of electrical pulse amplitude, duration, and frequency, wherein neuromodulation as well as increased metabolism of calories is achieved by the elicited muscular contractions;
• and a third actuator to activate the third device to concurrently monitor one or more markers of ischemia or hemodynamic markers, wherein the microcontroller causes automatic execution of the preset programs.

A system for inducing physiological effects of ischemic conditioning, physiologic effects of shear stress, and physiological effects of electrical stimulation in a subject's body, the system comprising:

• (a) a first device configured to create ischemia in a subject's body part;
• (b) a second device configured to mechanically generate arterial shear stress in a subject's body part;
• (c) a third device configured to cause an electrical stimulation of one or more nerves, one or more muscles, or a combination thereof;
• (d) a fourth device configured to monitor one or more of markers of ischemia or hemodynamic parameters such as tissue oxygenation and temperature;
• markers of metabolism including lactate, pH, oxygen, carbon dioxide, ATP, ADP, adenosine, cytochrome oxidase, redox voltage, erythropoietin, bradykinin, opioids;
• and markers of blood flow or pulse;
• or combinations thereof;
• (e) a microcontroller capable of automatically controlling a first actuator to induce ischemic condition, controlling a second actuator to control a second device to generate arterial shear stress, and controlling a third actuator to control electrical stimulation, and controlling a fourth actuator to activate a fourth device concurrently monitoring one or more markers of ischemia or hemodynamic markers;
• and
• (f) a first actuator to cause the first device to cause ischemia in a subject's body part for a preset duration and then stop the ischemia for a preset duration, and to repeat the ischemia and reflow periods according to a preset program;
• a second actuator to simultaneously cause the second device to mechanically generate arterial shear stress according to a preset program of mechanical pulse amplitude, duration, and frequency;
• a third actuator to simultaneously cause the third device to electrically stimulate a nerve or muscle, or a combination thereof, according to a preset program of electrical pulse amplitude, duration, and frequency, wherein neuromodulation as well as increased metabolism of calories is achieved by the elicited muscular contractions;
• a fourth actuator to activate the fourth device to concurrently monitor one or more hemodynamic markers, wherein the microcontroller causes automatic execution of the preset programs.