ELECTROCHEMICAL REACTOR TO DISINFECT REUSED DIALYZERS

THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF THE PROGRAM IS TO DEVELOP A SAFE, RELIABLE ELECTROCHEMICAL HYPOCHLORITE GENERATOR SPECIFICALLYFOR USE IN THE CLEANING AND DISINFECTING OF REUSED DIALYZERS. HYPOCHLORITES HAVE BEEN WIDELY USED BY HEALTH CARE FACILITIES FOR THE CLEANING OF REUSED DIALYZERS PRIOR TO STERILIZATION WITH FORMALDEHYDE. AN ELECTROCHEMICAL GENERATOR SYSTEM THAT PRODUCES SODIUM HYPOCHLORITE FROM SALT (NAC1) SOLUTION ON DEMAND AT SET CONCENTRATIONS WOULD INCREASE SAFETY, REPRODUCIBILITY AND RELIABILITY OF THE REUSED DIALYZER CLEANING PROCESS. THE QUANTITY OF HYPOCHLORITE GENERATED WOULD BE ACCURATELY CONTROLLED BY THESET ELECTRIC CURRENT OF THE GENERATOR. THE SPECIFIC AIMS OF THIS PHASE I PROPOSAL ARE TO DETERMINE THE FEASIBILITY OFDEVELOPING A FLOW-THROUGH AIR-DEPOLARIZED ELECTROCHEMICAL GENERATOR SYSTEM TO 1) REPRODUCIBLY AND RELIABLY SUPPLY HYPOCHLORITE ON DEMAND AT SET CONCENTRATIONS AND 2) VIABLY CLEAN AND REMOVE RESIDUAL BLOOD COMPONENTS FROM USED DIALYZERS. THE METHODOLOGY FOR ACHIEVING THESE GOALS IS TO 1) FABRICATEAN AIR (O2) DEPOLARIZED SODIUM HYPOCHLORITE GENERATOR AND CONDUCT PARAMETRIC TESTING TO DEFINE EFFICIENCY, OPERATING CHARACTERISTICS/LIMITATIONS AND INTERFACE REQUIREMENTS TO OTHER SUBSYSTEMS INCLUDING ELECTRIC AND SOLUTION CONTROL COMPONENTS AND 2) EVALUATE THE GENERATOR FOR REMOVING RESIDUAL BLOOD COMPONENTS FROM A USED DIALYZER AND RESTORING THE DIALYZER'S ORIGINAL SOLUTE CLEARANCE VALUE. THE RESEARCH COULD RESULT IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NOVEL AIR-DEPOLARIZED HYPOCHLORITE GENERATOR THAT IS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO CLEAN REUSED DIALYZERS AT REDUCED POWER LEVELS.