Artificial Kidneys

Capillary Artificial Kidneys (Hollow Fiber Dialyzers): 1964-1967
Richard Stewart, MD, was given a grant to explore the medical applications of cellulose acetate capillary fibers. His group determined that this technology would have a practical application as an artificial kidney.

The original "Capillary Kidney" demonstrated that substances could be selectively removed from the blood as well as excess water.

Stewart et al developed larger versions for clinical use. They set as their criteria that the device must be as efficient as the "Twin Coil Dialyzer," but it must have a lower priming volume and be more reliable.

The clinical model shown here was first used at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI, and later at the Marquette School of Medicine in Milwaukee, WI. The "Capillary Artificial Kidney" has become the standard for hemodialysis today.



Here's what I found at a pet supply store today, it looks very similar and with some modification could work as a good filtering system.

How a dialysis machine works.