Artificial Kidney, Diatyser

An artificial kidney or dialyzer is a device used in hemodialysis to purify the blood of patients with kidney failure.

Hemodialysis is based on the principle of diffusion - substances from the patient's blood pass through a semi-permeable membrane into the dialysate solution. The dialyzer consists of many hollow fibers divided into two parts. Blood flows along one side of the fibers and dialysate flows along the other.

During the process of hemodialysis, toxic substances such as urea, creatinine, excess fluid and electrolytes are removed from the blood. The purified blood is returned back to the patient's body. Thus, the artificial kidney performs the function of a natural kidney in case of kidney failure.

In recent decades, we have witnessed the emergence of new technologies in medicine that can significantly improve the quality of life of people and extend its duration. One such technology is the artificial kidney, which has become a real breakthrough in the treatment of kidney diseases. Below we will look at the principles of operation and use of artificial kidneys and dialyzers, and also discuss the advantages and disadvantages of these devices.

The human kidney is an organ that performs the functions of filtering the blood and cleansing it of toxins and metabolic products. However, it is not always possible to preserve kidney function if it is damaged. This may be due to both diseases and the effects of toxic substances on the human body. In such cases, the most effective way to combat poisoning is dialysis - the process of purifying the blood through a special membrane.

Dialyzers are devices that are used to perform dialysis. They can be stationary or portable, and vary in design, size, performance and other parameters. Currently, there are many dialysis devices of different types and manufacturers, but their operating principle is almost the same. Let's look at the main types of dialyzers in more detail.

Hemodynamic dialyzers The most common type of dialyzer is the hemodynamic method. It is based on filtering blood through a porous membrane using an external energy source, such as a pump. An array of small pores in the membrane allows water and gas molecules to pass through, but retains unnecessary substances. The pump is powered by a built-in battery pack, which ensures autonomy of the device and its mobility.

Kinetic and ultrafiltration dialyzers Another type of dialyser is the kinetic and ultrafiltration method. These types of dialytors differ in their filtration principles. Kinetic technology is based on the use of the process of diffusion - the transfer of a substance through a membrane depending on its molecular weight. Ultrafiltration involves only large molecules passing through, while small solutes (including nutrients) remain in the blood.

There are also hybrid types of dialyzer that combine kinetic and ultrafiltration technologies. The concentration of useful substances that remain at the outlet differs depending on the type of dialyser chosen. In addition, these types of devices are used for various purposes: to replace the insufficient functionality of a normal kidney and to provide post-operative support to the body. In conclusion, artificial kidneys are a reliable way to treat many kidney diseases and related complications in people of different ages. At the same time, the use of dialysis devices makes it possible to maintain fat, protein, nitrogen and electrolyte levels to healthy levels.