Implantable Renal Replacement Therapy Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Patients with end-stage renal disease face significant lifestyle restrictions and high mortality rates due to thrice-weekly dialysis, which is costly and burdensome, necessitating a continuous and automated renal replacement therapy solution.
Innovation Solution
An implantable renal replacement therapy device that diverts blood from the iliac artery to a filtration system, removing uremic toxins and excess water, and reclaims salt and water through a re-absorption system, connected to a control unit via a percutaneous driveline, using non-silicon ceramic filters and sensors for efficient filtration and re-absorption, with a battery-powered system for continuous operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If thrice-weekly dialysis is used, then renal replacement therapy is provided, but lifestyle restrictions and high mortality rate occur
Solution Approach 1:
The implantable device enables the patient's body to perform renal replacement therapy autonomously and continuously, eliminating the need for external dialysis sessions and lifestyle restrictions while improving survival outcomes
2Extent of automation
If implantable renal replacement therapy is used, then continuous automated treatment is provided, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the filtration system, re-absorption system, and necessary control mechanisms into a single implantable device, achieving continuous automated treatment while integrating multiple functions to manage overall system complexity
3Manufacturing precision
If filtration system removes uremic toxins and excess water, then blood purification is achieved, but blood proteins may be lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs porous ceramic filters with controlled pore sizes that allow selective passage of uremic toxins and excess water while blocking larger blood proteins, achieving effective filtration without significant protein loss
Solution Approach 2:
The re-absorption system recovers and returns essential substances to the blood, compensating for any potential losses during filtration and maintaining blood composition balance
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device provides continuous, automated toxin removal and fluid management, reducing the burden of dialysis, improving patient quality of life and potentially extending survival until a kidney transplant, with efficient filtration and re-absorption capabilities maintaining essential blood components.
Implementation Method 1
a non-silicon ceramic filter separating the feed side and the filtrate side
Implementation Method 2
The filtration system non-silicon ceramic filter can be selected to filter blood components less than 66,500 Daltons into the filtration system filtrate side
Implementation Method 3
a non-silicon ceramic filter separating the feed side and the filtrate side
Implementation Method 4
The re-absorption system non-silicon ceramic filter can be sized to pass components within the filtrate feed side having a molecular weight of less than 500 Daltons into the re-absorption system filtrate side
Data Source
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AI summary
Various types of a medical device are described which is used as an implantable renal replacement therapy (an implantable artificial kidney). This device removes toxins and excess water from blood of patients with kidney failure or end stage renal disease. Additionally, other configurations of the device can be used as an external (extracorporeal) device.