WHAT IS DIALYSIS? Hemodialysis is often used as a treatment for end stage renal disease (ESRD), or kidney failure, in which blood is removed from the body, filtered through an artificial kidney and then the cleaned blood is returned to the body. In the US, hemodialysis is the most common treatment for people who have kidney failure. However, dialysis can be a painful, expensive procedure, and while it cleans the blood well enough to maintain existence, it does little to improve a patient's overall quality of life. Patients must receive treatment on a regimented schedule at an office where they usually spend several hours. Also, data shows that if patients get a transplant before they get to the point of dialysis, they do better in the longer term.
PORTABLE DIALYSIS MACHINE: A portable, 75 pound dialysis machine offers patients the opportunity to undergo dialysis in their own homes, or in other locations. It requires tap water and standard electrical hookups, and can be used when a patient travels, or when forced to evacuate because of a hurricane or other disaster.