World’s First Implantable Artificial Kidney Device by Indian Researcher

The world's first artificial implantable kidney has been created by a US based Indian-origin researcher.

The first bio-implantable artificial kidney device in the world has been developed by a bio-engineering specialist of Indian origin researcher- Shuvo Roy and his team at the University of California in the US. This world's first artificial kidney can mimic almost all the vital functions of the kidney. It not only filters toxins but performs all the metabolic and hormonal functions of a normal kidney. If this device passes human trials, it could possibly eliminate the need for kidney dialysis and kidney transplant.

The new artificial kidney device is the size of a coffee cup and comprises of two parts- filter and cellular side. The first part filters the toxins from the bloodstream and is made up of silicon chips. This filtered blood is then pumped into the second part of the device which is also made up of silicon chips and is coated with a single type of human kidney cells. These renal cells help to reabsorb some of the water, sugar and salt back into the body, produce vitamin D and regulate the blood pressure. The waste products are directed through a tube that is attached to the urinary bladder and then excreted as urine.

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"Better over dialysis, even transplants as well. Patients may not require anti-rejection drugs - as is required after transplants because there would be no exposed natural tissues for the immune system to attack," said Dr Alka Bhasin, Nephrologist, Max. Human trials will be conducted over the next five to seven years. Animal trials have shown good results so far. Patients and the medical fraternity all over the world are hoping that Dr. Roy’s invention is successful and soon made available so that it will help patients in the final stage of chronic kidney disease and patients who are on lifelong dialysis.

Source-Medindia

About Transplantation
Since the early times, the novel idea of transplanting tissues and other body parts from one organism to the other has captured the imagination of successive generations.

Quiz on Kidney
The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs, each about the size of a fist, and are located just below the rib cage, one on each side of your spine.

Healthy kidneys filter about half a cup of blood every minute, removing wastes and extra water to make urine. The urine flows from the kidneys to the bladder through two thin tubes of muscle called ureters, one on each side of your bladder. The bladder stores urine. The kidneys, ureters, and bladder are partof the urinary tract.

kidneys remove wastes and extra fluid from your body. Kidneys also remove acid that is produced by the cells of your body and maintain a healthy balance of water, salts, and minerals-such as sodium, calcium, phosphorus and potassium-in your blood ().

Without this balance, nerves, muscles, and other tissues in the body may not work normally.

Kidneys also make hormones that help

Control your blood pressure
Make red blood cells
Keep your bones strong and healthy

Anatomy of Urinary System
Animation & slides showing anatomy of urinary system and the role of kidneys in getting rid of the waste products and excess fluid from our body to keep us healthy.