| Theme |
Diversity of hemodialysis therapies |
| Title |
Optimal filter design for hemodiafiltration (HDF) |
| Author |
Ken-ichiro Yamamoto |
Department of Clinical Engineering, Tokyo Women's Medical University |
| Author |
Ryoichi Sakiyama |
Department of Clinical Engineering, Tokyo Women's Medical University |
| Author |
Michio Mineshima |
Department of Clinical Engineering, Tokyo Women's Medical University |
| [ Summary ] |
The design of HDF filters is fundamentally different from that of hemodialyzers. In HDF treatment, substitution fluids are added to the blood before or after the HDF filter. Therefore, HDF filters are designed to prevent back filtration not to decrease effective surface area. As a result, the L/D （length/diameter） of HDF filters should be slightly smaller than that of hemodialyzers. Additionally, higher water permeability is required for HDF filters compared to hemodialyzers. However, increased permeability should be achieved not by improvements in the permeability of membrane but by enlargement of membrane area in order to control albumin leakage and back filtration. |