Artificial hemodialyzer

The hemodialyzer, also known as the artificial kidney, is a device that is used outside the body to remove the so-called the uremic toxins, such as urea and creatinine, from the blood of patients with kidney disease. While it is a crude device compared to the exquisite human kidney, many patients who are unable to receive a kidney transplant can survive for long periods with the use of this device. 

The main form of artificial kidney is the hemodialyzer, which uses semipermeable membranes to remove urea and other metabolic wastes, as well as some water... 

This chapter will focus on three types of membrane extracorporeal devices, hemodialyzers, plasma filters for fractionating blood components, and artificial liver systems. These applications share the same physical principles of mass transfer by diffusion and convection across a microfiltration or ultrafiltration membrane (Figure 18.1). A considerable amount of research and development has been undertaken by membrane and modules manufacturers for producing more biocompatible and permeable membranes, while improving modules performance by optimizing their internal fluid mechanics and their geometry. 

An artificial kidney is a device that removes water and waste metabolites from blood. In one such device, the hollow fiber hemodialyzer, blood flows from an artery through the insides of a bundle of hollow cellulose acetate fibers, and dialyzing fluid, which consists of water and various dissolved salts, flows on the outside of the fibers. Water and waste metabolites—principally urea, creatinine, uric acid, and phosphate ions—pass through the fiber walls into the dialyzing fluid, and the purified blood is returned to a vein. 

Organ replacement Heart-lung machine Artificial kidney (hemodialyzer) Artificial heart Silicone rubber Cellulose, polyacrylonitrile Polyurethane... 

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