Developing Next-Generation Dialysis Technologies for Acute Kidney Care and Disaster Preparedness
Abstract List
20 Sep 2026
10:45
11:30
Room 101C
Kenichi KokuboJapan
Speaker
Developing Next-Generation Dialysis Technologies for Acute Kidney Care and Disaster PreparednessAcute kidney care and dialysis during disasters share several important challenges, including limited resources, the need for flexible treatment delivery, and the requirement for safe and stable extracorporeal circulation. From an engineering perspective, next-generation dialysis systems should provide greater flexibility, safety, and resilience under different clinical conditions. In this presentation, I will introduce next-generation dialysis technologies that our group is currently investigating and developing.
One of our major projects is a compact dialysis system being developed for home hemodialysis. The system combines dialysate recirculation with adsorption technologies to reduce water and dialysate requirements, together with integrated sensors for remote monitoring of both device operation and patient status.
These technologies may also be applicable beyond home hemodialysis. Their low infrastructure requirements and remote monitoring capabilities could facilitate dialysis during disasters, and the same platform could also be adapted for continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) in acute kidney care.
Another approach under investigation is the delivery of nitric oxide (NO) through the dialysate to improve antithrombogenicity during extracorporeal circulation. Because NO has an extremely short biological half-life, its antithrombotic effects may potentially be localized primarily to the extracorporeal circuit, with limited systemic effects after the blood returns to the patient. This characteristic could be particularly advantageous for patients at high risk of bleeding and may facilitate safer prolonged extracorporeal blood purification.
Although these technologies remain under development, they illustrate how engineering approaches can contribute to the future of kidney replacement therapy. Resource-efficient dialysis systems, integrated remote monitoring, and localized antithrombogenic strategies may enable more flexible and safer blood purification across home, acute care, and disaster settings.