Advanced Filtration System for Serum Potassium

Hyperkalemia continues to be a concern when treating combat casualties. Current hemodialysis systems use a dialysate in a membrane contactor to replicate the function of the kidney by removing the toxins, excess fluid and the minerals. The dialysis machines used in hemodialysis centers are bulky. There are home dialysis machines that are smaller but not person portable and weighing about 70lbs.Similar to other stabilizing interventions such as damage control resuscitation, Bridge Dialysis for damage control of hyperkalemia will be needed to improve the survival of patients with post-traumatic acute kidney injury. This bridge dialysis system needs to be rugged, portable, have a small resource footprint and be simple to use.While this device is intended for use in the forward deployed setting, it could also find use in large scale humanitarian disasters.TDA Research, Inc (TDA), in collaboration with University of Alabama, Birmingham (UAB), proposes to develop a compact, single-person portable, ruggedized, battery-operated, advanced filtration system for serum potassium to serve as a bridge dialysis in the post traumatic care of combat casualties suffering from hyperkalemia.