Engineering a Better Kidney

"Kidney dialysis"....a scary phrase to hear.  When it becomes necessary, it means that a patient's kidney have ceased doing their job or are no longer able to perform their job adequately.  The kidneys are responsible for many functions within the body with the primary responsibility being the removal of waste products from the blood.  Essentially, the kidneys function as a blood filter in our bodies. 

So, how is it that medical professionals learned to circulate the blood out of the blood, filter it properly, and replace it back into the body?  Well, they sought help from people who have been filtering water and other fluids for decades.....chemical engineers.  Chemical engineers have been utilizing a process called hollow fiber membrane filtration for years (you can read more about the industrial process here).  

On the left, we see the Renal Assist Device (RAD) from Nephros Therapeutics.  This cartridge is fitting into a dialysis machine as shown by the red box.  On the right, we see a hollow fiber membrane cartridge used in an industrial water filtration system.  Notice any similarities between the two? 

Make no mistake, translating the technology used to filter water over to the filtration of blood is no easy task.  The RAD is used to filter a much more sensitive fluid which is pumped into a patient's body.  Obviously the stakes are much higher.  However, the concept remains the same.  The fluid is pumped into the cartridge and enter very small tubules.  The tubes are designed to allow the clean fluid to pass through them while the contaminants are trapped inside the hollow fibers or tubes.

This is just another illustration of how chemical engineers, biomedical engineers, and physicians can work together to improve life for thousands of patients each year.  If you'd like to learn more about the RAD system, visit www.nephrostherapeutics.com/products/rad.htm.

By: Chris Haslego, Chief Webmaster
chris.haslego@cheresources.com