Combined technological-clinical approach to wearable dialysis

To evaluate the constraints imposed upon the design of wearable dialysis systems, prototypes using currently available hardware were applied to three different dialysis formats: 1) the wearable artificial kidney (WAK) for hemodialysis (HD), 2) reciprocating peritoneal dialysis (RPD), and 3) alternating sorbent based dialysis/diafiltration(Ds/F) with a highflux membrane. 1) WAK dialysis has undergone extensive clinical trials with results comparable to standard HD. This system, including a self-contained power source, weighs 4.5 kg. The pulsatile blood flow can be disadvantageous, and cost of disposables is high. 2) RPD is shown to be an effective PD format, with the clearance of urea averaging 29.7 (23.9 to 41.5) ml/min in 14 patients, totalling 548 RPD dialyses. 3) After four conceptual trials, the Ds/F system was used for one treatment. Mass transfer results show removal of: urea nitrogen, 15.4 g; creatinine, 1.9 g; uric acid, 1.2 g; potassium, 89.2 mEq; and a positive bicarbonate balance of 94 mEq. The design constraints of these systems were elucidated, and prototype compact delivery systems have been constructed. It is concluded that a) non-mechanical PD wearability exists and b) true wearability of HD or Ds/F systems is not yet technologically feasible, but constraints are less rigid for Ds/F than for HD.