3D model of human kidneys (courtesy of iStock)
A cutting-edge machine, which could transform the lives of kidney disease sufferers by making it easier for them to do their own dialysis treatment at home, is set to undergo clinical testing over the next few months. This is following breakthrough work facilitated by the Devices for Dignity Healthcare Technology Co-operative (D4D), involving experts at the University of Sheffield. The new haemodialysis machine is intended to replace the need for patients with kidney disease to make trips to the hospital three times a week to undergo dialysis. This is a treatment which removes waste from the blood when the kidneys can no longer function as normal. The news comes in time for World Kidney Day on 11 March 2010, which aims to raise awareness of the importance of kidneys, kidney disease and its associated health problems worldwide. Although leading renal units have managed to implement some successful home haemodialysis programs using standard equipment, these machines are complex, large and heavy. This has left patients with limited options on where to install the system, a problem the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) funded D4D Co-operative wanted to address.
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