How EECP work? The patient is made to lie on a comfortable table, and large blood pressure-like cuffs (used commonly in instruments measuring blood pressure!) are wrapped around the legs and buttocks. These cuffs inflate and deflate at specific intervals between heartbeats. A continuous electrocardiogram (ECG) is used to set the timing of inflation and deflation. The cuffs will inflate when the heart is at rest, and they deflate at the end of the rest period. Special sensors check the blood's oxygen level continuously and the pressure waves created by the inflations and deflations.