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What is an Artificial Kidney?

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

An artificial kidney is a medical device which performs the function of a missing or damaged kidney, filtering the blood to remove waste products and returning purified blood to the body. The technology behind artificial organs is constantly improving and being refined. As of 2009, an implantable artificial kidney had not yet been developed, but researchers had created wearable artificial kidneys, an important step along the way to an implantable replacement for a malfunctioning kidney.

Artificial kidneys are used when the kidneys are struggling to function, and when the kidneys have reached the state of acute failure. The most well known and frequently used form of the kidney is the hemodialysis machine, a piece of medical equipment which can be hooked to a patient to clean his or her blood. Patients in acute kidney failure may require daily hemodialysis, and the treatment requires going to a clinic which offers the procedure, which can be time consuming and expensive in addition to frustrating for people who are trying to lead relatively normal lives.

An artificial kidney may be used while a patient awaits a transplant.
An artificial kidney may be used while a patient awaits a transplant.

As an alternative to conventional hemodialysis, doctors have developed portable and wearable artificial kidneys which can be used as temporary measures for up to three days. These devices use battery power to function, and they can increase a patient's sense of freedom by allowing him or her to avoid conventional dialysis treatments.

Researchers have also worked on developing devices which could be installed as replacement kidneys in a patient with failing or severely compromised kidneys. Development of such a device is dependent on figuring out how to replicate the complex natural filter inside the kidneys in a form small enough to be implanted into the human body. Nanotechnology has the most potential in the eyes of researchers who are struggling to design an implantable replacement kidney.

An artificial kidney can temporarily relieve stress from a patient's own kidneys.
An artificial kidney can temporarily relieve stress from a patient's own kidneys.

Currently, patients may use an artificial kidney while they wait for a transplant, or to temporarily relieve stress on the kidneys. Hemodialysis is sometimes used to scrub the blood in cases where a patient develops severe toxicity, or to support patients who are undergoing systemic organ failure and other medical problems which place heavy strain on the kidneys.

Hemodialysis machines are the most most widely used artificial kidneys.
Hemodialysis machines are the most most widely used artificial kidneys.

Medical technology is a topic of immense interest to many researchers, since it has far-reaching potential applications. An artificial kidney is only one among an assortment of medical devices which would have been unthinkable to early medical pioneers, representing the huge leaps and bounds made in medicine in the 20th century.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a TheHealthBoard researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a TheHealthBoard researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

anon111261

My name is Mauro, and I'm currently in mozambique. i read this article because my father has suffered kidney failure two years ago.

Ever since, it's been hospitals all the time. We've been struggling to get him a transplant, but it's not easy, and now that i read the article about artificial kidney transplant, i found some hope for my father. nothing else would make me happy than to have my dad living his normal life, so please, i am very interested in this matter.

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    • An artificial kidney may be used while a patient awaits a transplant.
      By: Jeffrey Banke
      An artificial kidney may be used while a patient awaits a transplant.
    • An artificial kidney can temporarily relieve stress from a patient's own kidneys.
      By: CLIPAREA.com
      An artificial kidney can temporarily relieve stress from a patient's own kidneys.
    • Hemodialysis machines are the most most widely used artificial kidneys.
      By: Tyler Olson
      Hemodialysis machines are the most most widely used artificial kidneys.
    • Treating kidney failure may include taking a combination of drugs, in addition to dialysis.
      By: Vera Kuttelvaserova
      Treating kidney failure may include taking a combination of drugs, in addition to dialysis.
    • Long-term use of illicit drugs may cause renal failure.
      By: aaabbc
      Long-term use of illicit drugs may cause renal failure.
    • Prolonged dehydration may cause kidney failure.
      By: koszivu
      Prolonged dehydration may cause kidney failure.