Portable Filtration Device

About

Background: Nephrons, the functional units of the kidney, regulate glucose, amino acids, and various electrolyte levels. Poor kidney function can result in nutritional imbalances, such high levels of potassium in the blood, a condition called hyperkalemia. The most common causes of hyperkalemia are acute kidney failure and chronic kidney disease, but it can also be caused by adrenal failure, alcoholism, and type 1 diabetes. Chronic kidney disease alone affects 26 million Americans and is the 9th leading cause of death in the United States. Hyperkalemia can increase the risk for a number of dangerous medical complications, such as nerve function, arrhythmias and cardiac arrest. Patients are typically kept on a low-potassium diet, and therefore cannot consume the fruit or vegetable juices they enjoyed before having hyperkalemia. Currently, there is no commercially available product that patients can use to generate low-potassium beverages. A method that easily removes potassium from common beverages would benefit patients greatly.   Innovation: UCLA researchers Ira Kurtz, MD, and Alexander Pushkin, PhD, have developed a portable device that patients with hyperkalemia can use to generate low potassium drinks. The device consists of filters and FDA-approved resins that quickly remove 80% of the potassium from common fruit and vegetable juices while simultaneously adjusting the pH to maintain the original taste.   Applications: This device removes potassium from fruit and vegetable juices for consumption by patients with hyperkalemia.   Advantages: This is the first device that patients themselves can easily use to remove potassium from drinks. It is small enough to transport from place-to-place and easy to use on the go. No bulky equipment is required.