- Joined
- Jan 3, 2009
- Messages
- 2,605
- Points
- 0
World's first implantable artificial kidney
Dec 4, 2010, 12.58am
Shuvo Roy, Ph.D
Department of Biomedical Engineering -Lerner Research Institute
NEW DELHI: A US-based researcher Shuvo Roy has created the world's first implantable artificial kidney. What's sensational about Roy's creation is that the organ, no larger than a coffee cup, will be able to mimic the kidney's most vital functions like filtering toxins out of the bloodstream, regulate blood pressure and produce the all- important vitamin D.
The artificial kidney has been tested successfully on a small number of animals. Large-scale trials on animals and humans are expected over the next five years.
Once available, and if affordable, this creation by the Roy-led team at University of California will do away with the need for kidney dialysis.
According to Roy, the device has a filtration section to remove toxins from the blood, alongside a compartment with renal cells to conduct other functions of a kidney.
He believes the artificial kidney could last for decades and require no pumps or batteries. Patients wouldn't require anti-rejection drugs (as is required after transplants) either because there would be no exposed natural tissues for the immune system to attack.
The University of California team is awaiting approval to conduct larger scale animal and human trials. Already, it has successfully tested the implant in a few rats and pigs.
"The payoff to the patient community is tremendous," said Roy. "It could have a transformative impact on their lives...With the right financial support, I think we could reach clinical trials in five years. But it's hard to say how long after that it becomes commercially available due to the uncertainties of the FDA and commercialization prospects.''
.
Dec 4, 2010, 12.58am
Shuvo Roy, Ph.D
Department of Biomedical Engineering -Lerner Research Institute
NEW DELHI: A US-based researcher Shuvo Roy has created the world's first implantable artificial kidney. What's sensational about Roy's creation is that the organ, no larger than a coffee cup, will be able to mimic the kidney's most vital functions like filtering toxins out of the bloodstream, regulate blood pressure and produce the all- important vitamin D.
The artificial kidney has been tested successfully on a small number of animals. Large-scale trials on animals and humans are expected over the next five years.
Once available, and if affordable, this creation by the Roy-led team at University of California will do away with the need for kidney dialysis.
According to Roy, the device has a filtration section to remove toxins from the blood, alongside a compartment with renal cells to conduct other functions of a kidney.
He believes the artificial kidney could last for decades and require no pumps or batteries. Patients wouldn't require anti-rejection drugs (as is required after transplants) either because there would be no exposed natural tissues for the immune system to attack.
The University of California team is awaiting approval to conduct larger scale animal and human trials. Already, it has successfully tested the implant in a few rats and pigs.
"The payoff to the patient community is tremendous," said Roy. "It could have a transformative impact on their lives...With the right financial support, I think we could reach clinical trials in five years. But it's hard to say how long after that it becomes commercially available due to the uncertainties of the FDA and commercialization prospects.''
.