# Automated Abdominal Binder for Orthostatic Hypotension

> **NIH NIH R01** · VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER · 2022 · $539,704

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Neurogenic orthostatic hypotension (nOH) is a significant medical problem in the elderly; It not only causes
substantial disability, but is also a regonized risk for falls and increased mortality. The main hemodynamic
mechanism underlying the fall in upright blood pressure (BP) in nOH is an exagerated decrease in venous return
due to splanchnic venous pooling that patients are unable to compensate for because of impaired autonomic
reflexes. Developing therapies that reduce splanchnic capacitance and restore venous return would have the
potential to selectively improve upright BP. However, the only approved treatments for nOH are pressor agents
which do not target the underlying pathophysiology and increase supine BP as much or more than upright BP.
Furthermore, their increase in supine hypertension leads to pressure diuresis and worsening of OH.
 We have developed an automated abdominal binder that uses a novel technological approach to overcome
the limitations of current drug therapy. The device is triggered by an accelerometer that senses the patient's
upright posture and inflates to a sustained a servo-controlled compression pressure of 40 mm Hg. The device
automatically deflates when the patient is seated or supine and, therefore, will not have the negative effect of
supine hypertension inherent to pressor agents. Our preliminary results showed not only that this device acutely
improves orthostatic tolerance and upright BP in nOH patients, but also that it is as effective as midodrine, the
current standard of care. Thus, this device has several potential advantages over current therapy: it targets the
underlying pathophysiology of OH (unrestrained venous pooling), its effects are immediate compared to
medications that usually require about an hour to reach peak effect; it is activated only when standing (it does
not induce or worsen supine hypertension), and it does not rely on patient compliance or caregiver involvement.
 The purpose of this project is to investigate the mechanisms by which the automated abdominal
binder improves upright BP and orthostatic tolerance in nOH patients, and the effects of abdominal
compression on central hemodynamics and markers of cardiovascular risk. We propose 3 proof-of-
concept clinical mechanistic studies to 1) test the hypothesis that the automated abdominal binder improves
upright BP by decreasing splanchnic capacitance, venous pooling and the orthostatic drop in stroke volume
compared to sham device and midodrine; 2) to determine the acute effects of the automated binder and
midodrine on markers of cardiovascular risk such as augmentation index, pulse wave velocity and central BP,
and 3) to test the hypothesis that the automated abdominal binder will be associated with lower 24-hr supine BP,
reduced diuresis and improved upright BP in the morning after treatement compared to daytime use of midodrine
(10 mg t.i.d). We believe the results of these studies will provide the mechanistic insig...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10371026
- **Project number:** 5R01HL144568-03
- **Recipient organization:** VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Luis Enrique Okamoto
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $539,704
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-01-01 → 2024-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10371026

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10371026, Automated Abdominal Binder for Orthostatic Hypotension (5R01HL144568-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10371026. Licensed CC0.

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