抄録
Hemodialysis is by far the most popular treatment modality for kidney disease patients in which blood and washingsolution (called dialysate)are separating flowing on either side of the separation membrane in order to remove wastesubstances mainly due to concentration gradient. This treatment, however, requires not only membrane devices (dialyzers)but also electric power source, computer-controlled high-tech dialysis machine, more than 120 L ofdialysate, and cannot be performed when the crisis occurs. We have been developing a wearable blood purificationsystem by combining membrane and other devices. The first system included particles of adsorbent dispersed inagar gel and it removed toxic substances as long as 1 week; however, the direct contact of blood with agar mayinduce bioincompatible reactions. The second and third systems included an ultrafilter and an adsorbent that connected to the outside loop of the ultrafilter with various returning points of ultrafiltrate. Ultrafiltration naturallyoccurs due to pressure gradient from blood compartment to the outer lumen of the membrane and the ultrafiltratereturns back to the main blood stream by virtue of the connection. Both systems showed the solute removal performances with satisfactory results. Moreover, this system may be further developed to the system with no electricpower source, water, or pump that can be available even under the crisis.
