Artificial Kidney News

Holding patient insight as valuable, and thus expanding ways patients can participate in all stages of product development, is essential to ensuring equitable access to emerging dialysis technologies, an expert in patient advocacy said.

The United States Patent Office has issued a patent to Victor Gura, MD, FASN, for a wearable artificial kidney, and the nephrologist said he wants to begin a clinical trial later this year to test the third-generation device.

The FDA has granted 510(k) clearance to Baxter for its portable hemodialysis machine, titled Artificial Kidney 98. The machine is already used in 90 countries, according to a press release.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the American Society of Nephrology are offering up to $10 million in prizes for innovations in artificial kidney development.

A speaker at the virtual Innovations in Dialysis: Expediting Advances Symposium discussed how patient-preference information can be used by the FDA in making regulatory decisions on devices designed for patients with kidney failure.

The goal of kidney replacement therapy must be helping patients to “live their lives as if they were free from disease to the extent possible,” according to a speaker at the virtual Innovations in Dialysis: Expediting Advances Symposium.

AWAK Technologies raised $40 million to continue development of its wearable peritoneal dialysis device, which has received a breakthrough designation from the FDA.

In a recently published article, researchers provided an overview of ambulatory hemodialysis devices, which they suggest “offer the potential for self-care treatment outside the clinical setting as well as frequent and prolonged sessions.” However, they argued that ongoing efforts related to technological improvements and safety are required before implementation.

The FDA has awarded a contract to the Kidney Health Initiative for a 3-year project that aims to measure patient preferences and risk tolerance for the creation of novel, renal replacement therapy devices. According to a press release, the project responds to Advancing American Kidney Health, which calls for surveys gauging patient preferences for kidney failure treatments.

An 11-year development cycle with an artificial kidney device using an approach similar to PD therapy has been successful in Japan, according to a speaker here.