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’s downstream water purification device (e.g. ion exchange resins, reverse osmosis membranes). Traditionally, activated carbon is used to remove chloramine from water. However, activated carbon is less suitable for home dialysis machines because it:
Requires frequent changing when the capacity wears out
Increases the size of the device
Allows bacteria to grow within the system, which can pose health risks and reduce flow rates over time
Requires patients to test the water daily to ensure it is free of chloramine
We’re seeking collaborations with researchers to develop technologies that can reduce total chlorine (mono-di-tri-chloramine, free chlorine) levels to less than 0.1mg/L. You can assume 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:
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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