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Small, in-line sensor for detecting total chlorine in water
Background

Baxter invests $650 million annually in R&D and home dialysis is one of our largest product segments. Dialysis works by filtering a water-based solution called dialysate through a patient’s bloodstream to remove excess waste, a process that simulates the functioning of a healthy kidney. Today, rather than travel to dialysis centers, many patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) receive their treatment on home dialysis machines (see product diagram).  

 

For household water to be safely used for dialysis, it must be completely free of chloramine, which is frequently added to municipal water sources for disinfection. If chloramine is not removed and enters a patient’s bloodstream, it causes hemolysis and anemia. Removal of chloramine is also important to protect components inside the machine (e.g. ion exchange resins, reverse osmosis membranes). The two most common methods for detecting chloramine levels are paper strips and in-line measurement devices. Each has drawbacks:  

 

  • Paper test strips are difficult for patients to interpret 

  • In-line measurement devices on the market today require the addition of chemical reagents that need to be changed frequently and are not suitable for small-scale devices at the point-of-care 

  • Both test strips and reagent-based in-line measurement devices require that patients test the water daily for chloramine 

  • The chloramine concentration is under continuous monitoring and cannot be viewed remotely

What we're looking for

We’re seeking collaborations to develop an in-line sensor smaller than 10 cm3 that measures total chlorine (mono-di-tri-chloramine, free chlorine) with an accuracy of +/- 20%. It can be a standalone sensor or built into a water purification unit. You can assume the feed water is sourced from either municipal water supplies or public well water and is compliant with the drinking-water quality guidelines of the World Health Organization.

The operating conditions of the dialysis machine are:

  • Total chlorine levels are typically below 0.1 mg/L in the treated water
  • Feed water temperature is between 1°C and 40°C
  • Feed water flow rate is between 100 ml/min and 1,500 ml/min
Our nice-to-have's are:
  • Measures total chlorine (mono-di-tri-chloramine, free chlorine) levels below 0.1 mg/L with an accuracy of +/- 20%
  • Sensor is no larger than 10cm3 (excluding the size of the readout system)
  • Eliminates need for patient testing
  • Requires calibration only once at installation
  • Produces no waste flow
  • Requires no additional reagents or chemicals
What's out of scope:
  • Oxidation-reduction potential electrodes. These measure the overall oxidizing potential in the water from all oxidants and not total chlorine concentration.
What we can offer you
Benefits:
Sponsored Research
Funding is proposal-dependent and typically ranges from $150,000 to $300,000 for a 6 to 12 month engagement with the opportunity for follow-on funding.
Expertise
Baxter has a team of 100+ highly-skilled engineers in the US, Europe and Asia with deep expertise in home dialysis therapies and water technologies.
Who we are

Baxter is a global Fortune 500 healthcare and medical device company based in Deerfield, Illinois that develops products to treat kidney disease, hemophilia, immune disorders and other chronic and acute medical conditions.

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