Many of them
must wait for years to get a kidney transplant and live normally, with
seemingly no other solution on the horizon. However, there’s finally a light in
the dark tunnel – scientists from the University of California at San
Francisco, USA, have developed the world’s first bionic kidney which can
replace damaged kidneys easily and effectively.
The bionic kidney is a perfect replica of our
kidneys. It consists of numerous microchips and is moved by the heart. Like the
normal kidneys, it is able to filter waste and toxins from the bloodstream.
The project
was unveiled by Willian Vanderbilt Fissels and Shuvo Roy from the University of
California, offering renewed hope for millions of kidney dialysis patients.
Now, some of you may be wondering “But, what if the body rejects it?”, but, the
scientists assure us that the chances of rejection are zero! Incredible, right?
This is
because the bionic kidney is made from renal cells. The first prototype is the
size of a coffee cup and can balance the levels of sodium and potassium in the
body while regulating blood pressure.
The project is wonderful news for any dialysis
patient. In the beginning (November 2015), the scientists received $6 million
from the Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, and it’s safe to say
that the money were well spent.
The scientists have high hopes for the bionic
kidney, and the lead researcher, Dr. Victor Gura, says that the device will be
available for sale in only 2 years.
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