California Researchers Create Model of Artificial Kidney to Replace Dialysis
September 09, 2010 |
Research & Medicine
Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco recently unveiled a prototype model for an implantable artificial kidney that one day could be an alternative to dialysis for people going into renal failure.
The artificial kidney, which is a collaborative project between engineers, biologists and physicians nationwide, would use advanced technology to mimic real kidney function.
With a goal to shrink the technology to the size of a coffee cup, the team anticipates the device would be able to be implanted in the body without the need for immune suppressant medications, allowing the patient to live a more normal life. The two-stage systems uses a filter to remove toxins from the blood and live renal cells to provide other functions of the kidney.
Although these are only the initial steps in the process of getting the artificial kidney to the public, the research team has established the feasibility of an implantable model in animal models and plans to be ready for clinical trials in five to seven years.
Click here for more detailed information about the team’s research and the device itself.