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Video shows more details about design of the Wearable Artificial Kidney
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The Wearable Artificial Kidney (WAK), invented by nephrologist Victor Gura, MD, FASN, from the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, has been involved in laboratory and clinical testing since 2001 by medical clinicians, bio medical engineers, and other medical device researchers. The present prototype of the WAK is a 10-pound device, powered by nine-volt batteries and worn around the waist. It is manufactured by Blood Purification Technologies, based in Beverly Hills, Calif.
Researchers have received approval to begin safety and performance testing of the device at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle. Researchers told NN&I in August that the trial was expected to begin this fall. At press time, the researchers have not confirmed whether the trial has started. -by Rebecca Zumoff