Abstract
A Wearable Artificial Kidney ( gross weight; 7kg) which has the possibility of clinical trial has been developed in our laboratory. Main improvement of the device are a dialysate pump, a reservoir and a dialysate warming system. This dialysate pump was 30% smaller in size and with 50% saving in weight as compared to conventional one. Because the reservoir is made of hard materials (polypropylene), the increase in level of liquid surface reveals volume of removed water. In regard to the dialysate warming system, bodywarmers and a patient's temperature were used as the sources of heat. We assembled the device consisting of these and tried in vivo experiments. An anephric dog was maintained under stable condition by this system for about three weeks. As the result of in vivo experiments, it seems that this system will be applied to a clinical trial.
