Combination Kidney Liver Dialysis System Plasma Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current dialysis systems are inadequate in removing uremic toxins and hepatic toxins, and there is a lack of effective treatment for multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS), particularly for liver failure, as they do not provide sufficient removal of toxins and water, and existing kidney dialysis systems only replace a limited number of kidney functions.
Innovation Solution
A combination kidney and liver dialysis system that utilizes multiple dialytic processes such as hemodialysis, hemoperfusion, CRRT, hemodiafiltration, plasmapheresis, albumin dialysis, and lipid dialysis, involving the separation of blood into plasma and cellular portions, dilution with replacement fluids, and passage through semi-permeable membranes and absorptive surfaces to enhance toxin removal and convective forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If standard dialysis is used to filter blood, then uremic toxins are removed, but hepatic toxins (protein-bound toxins) cannot be effectively removed
Solution Approach 1:
The blood treatment process is segmented into distinct stages: plasma separation to isolate protein-bound toxins, followed by adsorption specifically targeting hepatic toxins, and finally dialysis for uremic toxins. This segmentation allows each process to optimize for its specific toxin type rather than attempting simultaneous removal of all toxins through a single method.
Solution Approach 2:
An adsorption column containing activated charcoal or resin is introduced as an intermediary component between plasma separation and dialysis. This intermediary specifically binds protein-bound hepatic toxins that would otherwise pass through standard dialysis membranes unchanged, enabling effective removal of toxins that standard dialysis cannot address.
2Productivity
If blood flow rate is increased to improve toxin removal efficiency, then more toxins are removed per unit time, but blood recirculation increases reducing net effective treatment
Solution Approach 1:
Plasma is extracted from whole blood through plasma separation before the adsorption and dialysis processes. By removing plasma (which contains the toxins) from cellular components, the system processes only the toxin-containing portion at high flow rates, while cellular components are returned to the patient, effectively eliminating blood recirculation losses.
3Quantity of substance
If multiple dialytic processes are combined to remove both uremic and hepatic toxins, then toxin removal effectiveness improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple dialytic processes (plasma separation, adsorption, and dialysis) are merged into a single integrated circuit where plasma flows sequentially through each stage. This merging achieves comprehensive toxin removal while maintaining operational simplicity through a unified system rather than separate independent devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The plasma processing circuit serves multiple functions: plasma separation removes cellular components, the adsorption column targets hepatic toxins, and the dialysis membrane removes uremic toxins. This multi-functionality within a single circuit reduces overall system complexity compared to using separate devices for each function.
4Adaptability or versatility
If plasma separation is performed to isolate protein-bound toxins, then hepatic toxin removal is enabled, but dead space in the system increases
Solution Approach 1:
A thin-film plasma separation membrane is used to separate plasma from cellular components. The thin-film design minimizes the volume of the separation chamber (dead space) while maintaining effective plasma-cells separation, enabling hepatic toxin treatment without significant time loss to large dead space volumes.
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 system effectively increases the removal of uremic and hepatic toxins, reduces dead space and blood recirculation, and improves the free serum concentration of protein-bound toxins, offering a more efficient dialysis process for both kidney and liver issues, potentially improving patient outcomes in MODS.
Implementation Method 1
a plasma separator configured to separate the whole blood into a plasma portion and a cellular portion
Implementation Method 2
passage through semi-permeable membranes and absorptive surfaces
Implementation Method 3
dialysis works on the principles of the diffusion of solutes and ultrafiltration of fluid across a semi-permeable membrane
Implementation Method 4
diffusion of solutes and ultrafiltration of fluid across a semi-permeable membrane
Implementation Method 5
enhance toxin removal and convective forces
Implementation Method 6
passage through semi-permeable membranes and absorptive surfaces
Implementation Method 7
albumin dialysis, and the unique lipid dialysis
Implementation Method 8
passage through semi-permeable membranes and absorptive surfaces
Implementation Method 9
the unique lipid dialysis
Implementation Method 10
passage through semi-permeable membranes and absorptive surfaces
Implementation Method 11
an extracorporeal membrane oxygenator configured to oxygenate the cellular portion
Data Source
AI summary
A combination kidney and liver dialysis system and method provides a portable, lightweight hemodialysis device that removes uremic toxins, hepatic toxins, water, and impurities from the blood. The method comprises separating the blood into a plasma portion and a cellular portion, immediately returning the cellular portion to the body, providing large volumes of replacement fluids, diluting the plasma portion with replacement fluids, and then manipulating the plasma portion of the blood to pass through hemoperfusion membranes, hemodiafiltration membranes, and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation membranes. Dialysis is performed on the plasma portion of the blood with an albumin dialyzer against an albumin dialysate and a high molecular weight cut off membrane. Dialysis is performed on the plasma portion of blood with a lipid dialysate comprising 10-30% lipid composition, and a high flux dialyzer. The system can also use any form of dialysis technology including hollow fiber, flat plate and microfluidic technology.