At the same time new developments in medicine and the rising effectiveness of cardiac surgery and treatment have resulted in the more frequent prescription of cardiac rehabilitation. According to a Report on the Condition of Cardiac Rehabilitation in Poland there are currently 1.5 to 2.5 million diagnosed myocardial ischaemia cases in Poland. The rise in acute cardiac disorders is visible both among older people, where it is a sign that Polish society is ageing, as well as among the middle-aged. This in turn means more patients who may perforce be excluded from normal, active life. Novel cardiac rehab techniques give such cases hope of regaining their earlier mental and physical agility. For many years now the Institute of Medical Technology and Equipment (ITAM) has been developing effective rehab methods and systems for cardiac medicine, including „intelligent“ treadmills and rehab systems.

The ERT line of treadmills is suited for physician-monitored cardiac stress tests, rehab training under professional care and sport training. ERT treadmills are unique in that they are „intelligent“ – their speed can be adjusted to the user’s capabilities. Another asset is that they are well-suited for 6-minute Marching Tests and the Cooper physical fitness test.

The Peleton-Plus cardiac rehabilitation system is designed for comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation. The system consists of a central steering and monitoring unit and ERM-200 cycle ergometers equipped with automated blood pressure monitors and wireless ECG modules. Peleton-Plus is the world’s first group rehab system with totally wireless biomedical data and steering transmission. Realtime data relaying and the application of chipcards for special data storage enable high effectiveness levels and safe patient correlation with prescribed therapies.

The ECP-100 counterpulsation system is used on cardiac failure rehab programmes involving the raising of haemo-dynamics. The system raises diastolic blood pressure by pumping the blood from the specially-bedded patient’s legs during the early diastolic phase. The blood is propelled by means of a set of six pneumatic sleeves around the patient’s legs and waist. The sleeves are filled sequentially at the outset of the diastolic phase and emptied prior to the systolic phase. In order to achieve maximum effect the filling and emptying of the sleeves is synchronized with the patient’s ECG.

ITAM’s innovative devices and systems help improve therapy quality in cardiac treatment clinics countrywide. This is confirmed by the numerous positive references from renowned centres, and the Institute’s international distinctions. By setting new trends in cardiology, ITAM also works towards improving the health condition of Poles.

Piotr J. Bąk

Peleton-Plus cardiac rehab system

ECP-100 counterpulsation rehab system