Kidneys, artificial

T. M. S. Chang, Artificial Kidney, Artificial Eiver, and Artificial Cells, Plenum Publishing Corp., New York, 1978. 

Medical applications of membranes Artificial kidneys Artificial lungs Controlled drug delivery Well-established processes. Still the focus of research to improve performance, for example, improving biocompatibility... 

Dustin has also collected experimental data on these mutual influences of certain amino acids on others in regard to their excretion in the urine (still unpublished data). It is because of those mutual effects and of the very scanty information we have on them that clearance tests for amino acids, as observed in overloading conditions of their administration, seem difficult to interpret at the present time. Many publications concern such investigation under rather artificial conditions with regard to blood clearance of amino acids. There are data, however, which have been obtained without overloading the kidney artificially by parenteral injections of large amounts of an amino acid (C13) (also footnote p. 223). 

Healthcare and hygiene textiles Extracorporeal devices Bedding, protective clothing, surgical gowns, clothes, wipes, etc. Artificial kidney, artificial liver, artificial lung, bioreactors, etc. 

Artificial kidney dialyser Artificial turf Artimte [12143-96-3] Artists colors Arvin [9046-56-4]... 

Wet spinning of this type of hoUow fiber is a weU-developed technology, especiaUy in the preparation of dialysis membranes for use in artificial kidneys. Systems that spin more than 100 fibers simultaneously on an around-the-clock basis are in operation. Wet-spun fibers are also used widely in ultrafiltration appUcations, in which the feed solution is forced down the bore of the fiber. Nitto, Asahi, Microgon, and Romicon aU produce this type of fiber, generaUy with diameters of 1—3 mm. 

Spira.1- Wound Modules. Spiral-wound modules were used originally for artificial kidneys, but were fuUy developed for reverse osmosis systems. This work, carried out by UOP under sponsorship of the Office of Saline Water (later the Office of Water Research and Technology) resulted in a number of spiral-wound designs (63—65). The design shown in Figure 21 is the simplest and most common, and consists of a membrane envelope wound around a perforated central coUection tube. The wound module is placed inside a tubular pressure vessel, and feed gas is circulated axiaUy down the module across the membrane envelope. A portion of the feed permeates into the membrane envelope, where it spirals toward the center and exits through the coUection tube. 

Fig. 43. Schematic of a hoUow-fiber artificial kidney dialyser used to remove urea and other toxic metaboUtes from blood. Several million of these devices...

In terms of membrane area used and doUar value of the membrane produced, artificial kidneys are the single largest appHcation of membranes. Similar hoUow-fiber devices are being explored for other medical uses, including an artificial pancreas, in which islets of Langerhans supply insulin to diabetic patients, or an artificial Uver, in which adsorbent materials remove bUinibin and other toxins. 

One unique appHcation area for PSF is in membrane separation uses. Asymmetric PSF membranes are used in ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis, and ambulatory hemodialysis (artificial kidney) units. Gas-separation membrane technology was developed in the 1970s based on a polysulfone coating appHed to a hoUow-fiber support. The PRISM (Monsanto) gas-separation system based on this concept has been a significant breakthrough in gas-separation... 

Cellulose acetate films, specially cast to have a dense surface and a porous substmcture, are used in reverse osmosis to purify brackish water (138—141) in hollow fibers for purification of blood (artificial kidney) (142), and for purifying fmit juices (143,144) (see Membrane technology). 

In most situations, adequate, usuaHy forced, ventilation is necessary to prevent excessive exposure. Persons who drink alcohol excessively or have Hver, kidney, or heart diseases should be excluded from any exposure to carbon tetrachloride. AH individuals regularly exposed to carbon tetrachloride should receive periodic examinations by a physician acquainted with the occupational hazard involved. These examinations should include special attention to the kidneys and the Hver. There is no known specific antidote for carbon tetrachloride poisoning. Treatment is symptomatic and supportive. Alcohol, oHs, fats, and epinephrine should not be given to any person who has been exposed to carbon tetrachloride. FoHowing exposure, the individual should be kept under observation long enough to permit the physician to determine whether Hver or kidney injury has occurred. Artificial dialysis may be necessary in cases of severe renal faHure. 

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