Innovative Solution for Treating Hypervolemia in Patients with End-Stage Renal Disease

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Nephrology

Background:

• Fluid overload is a critical complication in end-stage chronic kidney disease (ESRD), leading to severe health issues.
• Current renal replacement therapies face challenges in maintaining optimal fluid balance for ESRD patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a portable, intelligent ultrafiltration device, the Moroccan Wearable Artificial Kidney (MorWAK), for managing fluid overload in ESRD.
• To establish a mathematical model for the device's suction bellows and assess its performance in vitro.

Main Methods:

• Mathematical modeling of suction bellows pressure-volume dynamics.
• In vitro testing of the MorWAK device using bovine blood, with ultrafiltration compensated by saline infusion.
• Utilizing a 1 m² polysulfone membrane and an 800 mL suction bellows at a constant blood flow rate.

Main Results:

• A mathematical equation P_i = P₀ [1 - ln (V_i)/ln (V₀)] was derived to describe bellows pressure.
• The device achieved a mean ultrafiltered volume of 854.23 ± 95.12 mL in approximately 28.33 minutes.
• The mean difference between actual and theoretical ultrafiltration volume was minimal (3.22 ± 0.57 mL).

Conclusions:

• The MorWAK device's ultrafiltration profile mimics current blood volume monitoring systems.
• Future iterations will incorporate advanced monitoring and solute management for comprehensive renal replacement therapy via telemedicine.
• An animal study is planned to validate the device's efficacy and safety.