This device has cuffs that are placed on the calves, thighs, and pelvic girdle. The cuffs are inflated sequentially during diastole from the calves proximally. The cuffs are then rapidly decompressed at the onset of systole. In other words, this procedure squeezes the patient systematically from periphery to the central part of the body. This causes several things to happen.
Diastolic pressure is raised and venous return is increased.
It may also increase cardiac output via the Starling mechanism, but we don't know that for sure yet. I can tell you that I am now pretty convinced that there is something to this. I am basing this on my own clinical experience, as well as the clinical experience of others, including Peter Cohen from Stony Brook. He and his group have had a lot of experience with this. There has also been a multicenter trial that had promising results.