Is there really a compact dialysis (hemo) dialysis machine, size of a backpack that you can travel with?

Answer 1

There is the NxStage System One cycler. I just traveled to Washington DC from Seattle with the machine. I then was able to do hemodialysis in the hotel room at night. The machine is about the size of a 20 inch cube and it weighs about 75 pounds. When you pack it for airline travel the machine and case weigh 100 pounds. It is exciting that they are working on machines that will be even lighter and more portable but this is a good start.

Check out the forum are of Home Dialysis Central for first person accounts, including mine, about using this machine and other home dialysis modalities. http://forums.homedialysis.org/

The web site for the System One is http://www.nxstage.com/

Answer 2

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Answer 3

I don't think so, coz patients doing hemodialysis shouldn't be walking about. Hemodialysis is a procedure to remove waste products from the blood. Patient blood is drawn into the dialysis machine to get the waste products removed and the "cleaned" blood is infused back to the patient. When patient blood is being drawn into the dialysis machine, there will be less blood circulating in the patient, causing a decrease in blood pressure resulting in giddiness. If patients are allowed to walk about with a compact dialysis machine, what happen if patient fainted? Having a compact dialysis machine is not beneficial to patient. And smaller, compact machines having similar functions as the big bulky machines are often more expen$ive.
Since it a compact dialysis machine doesn't benefit the patient and is more expen$ive to produce, it is not economical to produce one. Therefore, I don't think there is a compact dialysis machine available in the market.

Answer 4

The latest news I heard on this is that it is still awaiting FDA approval. Can you imagine the increased freedom of being able to walk around while doing hemodialysis? I think it's great. Obviously the dialysis would be slower, and not as hard on the body, thereby preventing most complications of hypotension.

Answer 5

There are lots of other dialysis patients that can help answer this question at http://www.ihatedialysis.com - go to the forum and post a question - it's a really great group of people with experience and knowledge to share!