Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, recently unveiled the first prototype of an implantable artificial kidney, saying the device is expected to completely replace patients' need for dialysis and kidney transplant donors.
Shiva Roy of the University of California, San Francisco, who is responsible for the research, said that the artificial kidney contains thousands of micro-filters and bioreactors, which can filter toxins in the blood and simulate a real kidney. metabolic function and water balance function. Previous experiments conducted on a room-sized external model showed initial success and that the treatment works effectively.
To achieve the ultimate goal of human application, the researchers plan to use silicon manufacturing technology and a specially designed spacer to help living kidney cells grow, so that the huge device can be reduced to one Coffee cup size. Researchers will also use tissue engineering methods to grow tubular cells to provide other functions necessary for healthy kidneys. The entire process runs on the body's blood pressure and does not require a pump or any electrical supply. If this technology comes to fruition, patients will be able to live normal lives without taking any immunosuppressive drugs.
Roy said that the team has established a feasible animal model and is working hard to improve it to make it more suitable for humans. This artificial kidney is expected to enter clinical practice in the next 5 to 7 years. experimental stage.
It is understood that there are only about 2,000 kidney transplant operations in the UK every year, which is less than one-third of the total number of patients waiting for transplants. Another alternative to kidney transplantation is hemodialysis. However, the average patient needs dialysis three times a week, for 3 to 5 hours each time, which not only consumes a lot of patients' time, but also increases huge medical expenses.
Roy said that nearly 45,000 adult patients in the UK need hemodialysis treatment every year, but this therapy can only replace 13% of kidney function. Long-term dialysis is not only exhausting for patients, but it also cannot fully protect their health. Statistics show that only 35% of patients who receive dialysis survive more than 5 years.