Kolff Kidney (rotating drum kidney)

Abstract

ART Kidney (Vividiffusion Apparatus) have been able to transfer solutes by diffusion from the animal blood to a dialyzing fluid. The blood is prevented from clotting using hirudin and is caused to flow outside the animal body through collodion tubes. The substances of small molecular weight are removed by diffusion whereas no substances of large molecular weight such as proteins pass through the collodion membrane. When Kolff WJ tried to construct the Kolff Kidney (Rotating Drum Kidney), fortunately excellent dialysis membranes (cellophane) and a reliable non-toxic anticoagulant (heparin) were available. In order to construct the Kolff Kidney of sufficient performance for clinical use, a small quantity of the blood in a thin layer confined with the cellophane tube membrane should be circulated over a large membrane surface in a closed system. Furthermore, the blood and also the dialyzing fluid should be caused to flow in a sufficiently mixed condition in the Kolff Kidney. The Kolff Kidney suitable for clinical use was developed in 1942 in cooperation with Mr H Th J Berk who was an engineer in Holland. The Kolff Kidney, Kolff-Brigham Kidney, Orange Juice Kidney and Tank Kidney are described in this special contribution paper.