U.S. researchers devise wearable kidney for dialysis patients
LOS ANGELES. August 21. KAZINFORM U.S. Researchers were testing a wearable artificial kidney for dialysis patients, which might replace dialysis machine, the American Society of Nephrology reported Thursday, Kazinform refers to Xinhua.
The equipment is devised by researchers of the University of California at Los Angeles. It is essentially a miniaturized dialysis machine and can be worn as a belt. It weighs about 10 pounds (4.5 kilograms) and is powered by two nine-volt batteries.
Currently, dialysis patients have to spend hours each week hooked up to a full-size dialysis machine in hospitals. With the new "kidney belt," patients are free to walk, work, or sleep while taking continuous and gentle dialysis that approximates natural kidney function.
"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," lead researcher Victor Gura said.
Preliminary tests, including two studies in dialysis patients, have been proven successful. The researchers will test the device in clinical trials, Kazinform cites Xinhua. See www.chinaview.cn for full version.