Abstract
The Wearable artifieial kidney using veno-venous (V-V) blood access consioto of four parts: d-FDL catheter (flexible double lumen catheter with Dacron cuff); hemofilter made of polyacrylonitrile (0.1m2); small blood pump (1.2kg); and circuit and safety devices. The d-FDL catheter was inserted through the subclavian vein by Seldingers' method. A Dacron cuff is used to prevent infection via the skin.Heparin was continuously injected into the circuit using a micropump (200 g). Two pumps are operated by a charging battery. This system was applied for 5 HD patients. Continuous veno-venous hemofiltration was performed for 24 hours in 2 patients. Hypotension was not observed in either case. Three advantages were recognized in this system compared with the previous one using an arteriovenous (A-V) fistula.
