AWAK – Automated Wearable Artificial Kidney
• Established in 2007 to address the end-stage renal disease (ESRD) market through the research development and supply of wearable dialysis machine (AWAK) as well as its consumables
• It was founded by Dr. Gordon Ku (Chairman of Kidney Dialysis Foundation), Dr. David B. N. Lee and Dr. Martin Roberts (both of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs Healthcare System and David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA)
• It was founded by Dr. Gordon Ku (Chairman of Kidney Dialysis Foundation), Dr. David B. N. Lee and Dr. Martin Roberts (both of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs Healthcare System and David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA)
Peritoneal dialysis-based automated wearable artificial kidney
Sorbent Technology – regenerates and reconstitutes used dialysis fluid into fresh fluid
AWAK Peritoneal Dialysis Flow
AWAK FEATURES :
- Bloodless (uses the patient’s own peritoneal membrane as filter) and waterless (dialysate is continuously regenerated from AWAK)
- like the natural kidneys, function on a 24/7 basis, it maintains steady-state metabolic and fluid regulation
- The device is portable
- the dialysate within the machine can be replaced once every 2-3 months
- The AWAK machine can also be disconnected for several hours at a time, allowing patients to pursue any activity
- AWAK is appropriate for any patient with end-stage kidney disease who can receive peritoneal dialysis.
- Doesn’t restrict the patient’s diet although sensible diet is advised
- Another major advantage of continuous dialysis through the AWAK device is that blood toxins are constantly being removed at a steady rate. As such, patients may be less likely to experience such symptoms as nausea and tiredness that can occur after hemodialysis treatments, when the blood contents and toxins are suddenly removed over several hours.