This dialysis machine is NOT yet approved for use in the USA but the company is working on it.

The website is www.dpsitech.com click on
C-Tech.

It claims to use only 6 liters of water. Does not require constant water supply or a drain hose therefore no plumbing upgrade in the home required.

Also states almost any potable water supply can be used.

Marty,

This is not a new technology. The "Redy" machine was originally made by a company called Organon Technika in the early 80's. The machine was meant to be the solution to doing acute dialysis in an ICU or other places in a hospital where it was hard to get a water supply.

The machine had a few major drawbacks such as:
The dialysate needed to pass through the regenerative cartridge slowly so a DFR of 300 was the best it could do.

If the patient had a high BUN (over 80) or was catabolic (which is often the case in an acute setting), the cartridge would become exhausted and need to be replaced (along with the dialysate) every hour and a half or so.

The dialysate had to be manually made and mixed to start with. The powders would sometimes not be fully dissolved and would jam up the machine.

The cartridges were VERY expensive at about $75 each.

The alarm systems were very limited and had to be manually set.

You can not use a dialyzer with high clearances because the machine is not able to control the Ultrafiltration rate.

As an interesting side note, this technology was originally developed by NASA for the Apollo program. It recyled the astronauts urine back into drinking water.

Chuck didn't mean this was new on the technology side. I just think it may become new as a way for patients to travel and get hemo dialysis. The articles states it has been 10 years since a new portable hemodialysis machine has been introduced into the market and this looks promising.

The article also states C-Tech's management team recognized that the portable hemodialysis equipment currently in operation today is outdated and antiquated.

I'm not promoting this machine as I have very limited information only what is on the website. It is only after seeing this website it makes me believe it is very possible that someday there will be a truly portable dialysis machine which would open up the doors for travel.

Depending on where you are traveling setting up "transient" dialysis can be very frustrating and sometimes just not possible.
If the units are booked where you want to go you are out of luck.

It also doesn't allow for much leeway for a short notice trip when a lot of the units have a 30 day notification rule.

I appreciate your input about the filters and such only someone with your experience can tell if this is just a rehash of what is or if it is truly improved as they advertise.

Chuck,

Another interesting note. I read on the web some place where the government was interested in better portable dialysis machines for battlefield use as water is also a problem in these conditions.

Marty,

I vaguely remember reading that also, I believe here on Renalweb. If I remember correctly, the specifications that were stated sounded unrealistic with todays technology but if it could be achieved and made affordable it would be a great piece of equipment.

As for a truely portable machine, we used to have a "suitcase" machine that a few of our patients traveled with. This machine was in a suitcase that was the size of a carry-on bag and weighed less than 10 pounds. For dialysate it used a 2 1/2 gallon collapsable jug that you would fill by running water through a DI bottle that was the size of a coffee thermos then manually add packets of powder and shake until it was dissolved. These batches of dialysate had to be changed every hour. The machine had absolutely no alarms. It was essentially just a blood pump, dialysate pump, needle valve for creating negative pressure, and the gauge from a BP cuff to monitor venous pressure.

Despite the crudeness of this device, it was used many times without anyone being harmed. Because of its limitations, we did have a rule that it could only be used for 2 treatments then the patient had to have a treatment with a conventional machine.

Chuck,

I really appreciate you taking the time to educate us on what we hear and read. Experience is the best teacher and you have had more than most.

I have always wondered what a dialysis machine costs do you have any ball park figure? My significant other thinks it has got be 30,000-50,000 because of all the sensors etc. which he says are very expensive parts.

Marty,

The price of a machine is very negotiable. What you are able to get them at is dependent on things like how many you are buying, and if you are going to buy the consumables (blood lines, dialyzers etc.) from them also. You can also tend to get a better price if you are buying in December or near the end of the suppliers fiscal year. The average cost is in the vicinity of around $15,000, we have bought them for much less but I have also heard of others paying much more.

Home Hemodialysis, "daily hemodialysis"...its as though we just invented fire! Guys: PD is home daily dialysis...either via CAPD or APD. Is it as efficient as hemodialysis, no. BUT! You don't have to stick yourself everyday with 15g needles; you don't have the worry of a big problem, (bleeding), to mentione a couple of reasons. PD has its drawbacks too, but it seems to me, in the cost environment we're in, the best alternative for patients, at least for the first couple of years is PD, PD, PD...

There are trade-offs with any type of dialysis. Some people hate needles and choose PD for that reason alone. Others love water sports and choose HD for that reason alone.

Any form of home dialysis is better than in-center dialysis so far as knowledge and control over illness and treatment, improved ability to work or participate in life activities because of scheduling flexibility, symptoms during or between treatments, satisfaction with care, quality of life.

PD slows loss of residual kidney function, that continues after kidneys fail. But then ultrapure dialysate has also been shown to do the same. Dialysis solution can be called "ultrapure" only if it meets certain standards for low bacteria levels and low levels of the toxins given off when bacteria die. Several of the new machines for home hemo use ultrapure dialysate.

Bottom line...Doing dialysis at home is much, much better for patients that are willing to learn and do it than doing dialysis in a clinic where patients rely on staff to take care of them.

Nxstage.com if you want a truely portable Hemo machine...

75# is "truely portable"?

Any machine that would allow me to spend a weekend in Baltimore every now and then would be a big advantage for me. Lin.

I have been using the nxStage system 1 machine for about 6 months. It truely portable. It uses bags of fluid instead of water. You can take them with you or have them delivered to your destination. The fluids are delivered to your home evcery month, I get about 90 boxes of two bags each box. The machine weighs about 75 or 80 pounds. I have used it on the road many times, even in hotel rooms.

Hi all, I also been using NxStage for over a year now and must say its a dream come true! Just recently I joined Nxstage Users Group where other patients like myself can chat about our eperiences. If your using Nxstage already you might want to join that group at Yahoo.

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/NxStageUsersGroup/

Home dialisys in a litigous society is not going to have a long term future. As the lawsuits mount and the lawyers learn how to find PTs for clients. Home dialysis will be no more. The largest provider has been sued for millions.Harlow