Doctors Successfully Complete the First Trial of a Wearable Artificial Kidney for Dialysis Patients

WAK

Doctors at the University of Washington, Seattle are currently testing out a new wearable artificial kidney (WAK) that would free dialysis patients from the tether of traditional machines. The key factor in the WAK’s portability is its compact filtration system, which reuses water. Upon completion of its first clinical trial, the WAK showed promising results with patients.

Treatment with the wearable artificial kidney was well tolerated and resulted in effective uremic solute clearance and maintenance of electrolyte and fluid homeostasis. These results serve as proof of concept that, after redesign to overcome observed technical problems, a wearable artificial kidney can be developed as a viable novel alternative dialysis technology.

WAK Schematics

photos via JCI Insight

via Science News Journal

Lori Dorn
Lori Dorn

Lori is a Laughing Squid Contributing Editor based in New York City who has been writing blog posts for over a decade. She also enjoys making jewelry, playing guitar, taking photos and mixing craft cocktails.

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