2019 Volume 10 Issue 2 Pages 73-88
Since Thomas Graham discovered the principle of diffusion in 1854 and Dow Chemical began mass production of hollow fiber blood purification membranes in 1968, blood purification technology has made great progress to date. Among them, the progress of blood purification membranes is notable, especially the progress involving industrial chemistry such as polymer synthesis and hollow fiber membrane production technology has been evolved into a major medical device industry. Furthermore, evaluation methods such as microscopic observation techniques were established, and in parallel, membrane permeation theory based on theoretical and quantitative approaches evolved. Such membrane science and practical application technologies are preceded by USA, Germany and Japan, but recently by China, India and the Middle East countries have been caught up. The innovation of blood purification membranes was the advent of hollow fiber membranes and polysulfone membranes. This review paper describes the advent of blood purification membranes and their subsequent evolution. I would like to evaluate the latest technology of the blood purification membrane from two viewpoints of biocompatibility and membrane permeation theory, and also to touch on future sustainable and disruptive innovation.
