Novel at-home leg heat therapy device to improve mobility in PAD
Official title: DEVELOPMENT & TESTING OF A NOVEL THERAPEUTIC DEVICE FOR IMPROVING MOBILITY IN PATIENTS WITH LOWER-EXTREMITY PERIPHERAL ARTERY DISEASE
Funded at Aquilo Sports, LLC · NIH-11313575 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new at-home device delivers leg heat therapy to help people with peripheral artery disease walk farther and feel stronger without the pain of traditional gym programs.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Aquilo Sports, LLC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Louisville, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,111,191 |
| NIH project number | 1R44HL184658-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11313575 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with symptomatic PAD who have barriers to regular supervised exercise or prefer home-based therapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with PAD who do not respond to heat therapy or have contraindications to heat or compression therapy may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to bring a home-based heating therapy system for the legs to people with symptomatic PAD who struggle with supervised exercise programs. The device uses a leg garment with pneumatic compression and circulating heat to improve blood flow and muscle function, potentially making it easier to be active. The team will test safety, feasibility, and preliminary effectiveness in adults with PAD to see if users can walk farther and perform daily tasks more easily. If successful, this could offer a convenient alternative to in-person therapy and reduce reliance on invasive procedures.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could experience improved walking ability and quality of life with a home-based, more convenient therapy option.
How similar studies have gone: Prior pilot data showed improvements in walking distance and leg strength with a similar home-based heat therapy approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Aquilo Sports, LLC
Louisville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Spence, Paul — Aquilo Sports, LLC
- Study coordinator: Spence, Paul
Related research
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Enhancing muscle energy to help leg function in PAD
A study to boost how muscle mitochondria work in people with peripheral artery disease to improve walking and leg function.
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Low-dose colchicine for people with peripheral artery disease to reduce heart and limb risks
A large international study will test whether a low daily dose of colchicine can lower heart and limb complications for people with peripheral artery disease.
-
Low-dose colchicine for reducing vascular risk in people with PAD
A large international study will test whether a daily low dose of colchicine can lower heart and limb-related risks for people with peripheral artery disease.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.