Hello Wearable Kidney, Goodbye Dialysis Machine

Monday, August 24th, 2009 by Lockergnome at 4:54am
3 Responses (Add)

Researchers are developing a Wearable Artificial Kidney for dialysis patients, reports an upcoming paper in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN). “Our vision of a technological breakthrough has materialized in the form of a Wearable Artificial Kidney, which provides continuous dialysis 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” comments Victor Gura, MD (David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA).

The device — essentially a miniaturized dialysis machine, worn as a belt — weighs about 10 pounds and is powered by two nine-volt batteries. Because patients don’t need to be hooked up to a full-size dialysis machine, they are free to walk, work, or sleep while undergoing continuous, gentle dialysis that more closely approximates normal kidney function.

Such a device could lead to a “paradigm change” in the treatment of dialysis patients. Despite enduring long hours on dialysis every week — with major limitations in activities, diet, and other areas of life — dialysis patients face high rates of hospitalization and death. The U.S. dialysis population currently exceeds 400,000, with costs of over $30 billion per year. “We believe that the Wearable Artificial Kidney will not only reduce the mortality and misery of dialysis patients, but will also result in significant reduction in the cost of providing viable health care,” says Gura.

The Wearable Artificial Kidney is successful in preliminary tests, including two studies in dialysis patients. The new study provides important information on the technical details that made these promising results possible.

“However, the long-term effect of this technology on the well-being of dialysis patients must be demonstrated in much-needed clinical trials,” adds Gura. “Although successful, this is but one additional step on a long road still ahead of us to bring about a much-needed change in the lives of this population.”

Shari Leventhal @ American Society of Nephrology

3 Comments

Do you Network Socially Too Much? | Chris Pirillo

August 24th, 2009
at 8:28pm

[...] Hello wearable kidney – good bye dialysis machine! [...]

Bill Webb

August 25th, 2009
at 9:25am

The biggest problem with this kind of dialysis, as with all dialysis, especially at-home dialysis, is infection. Infection control must be scrupulous, as there is a permanent connection between the “outside” and the “inside,” which is a potential path for bacteria. Every time a change is made in the system — a shower or bath, for example, which requires removal — there is a serious breach in the body’s defenses. Remember that skin bacteria, introduced into the body, can cause serious infection — even death.

Not to say that these things aren’t wonderful, but it will be some time before they give dialysis patients anything approaching a normal life. We need to push for continuing research into building implants and universally-transplantable kidneys. Any form of dialysis is a stopgap measure.