Domestic technical textiles Industry Segment-wise consumption of ...

Artificial Kidney / Dialysers
Kidney serves the filtering mechanism of the blood. The kidney has a mechanical substitute in kidney
dialysis machine. The kidney dialysis machine is outside the body and purifies the blood using a filter
called the haemodialysor. The haemodialysor is made primarily of polysulphone and polyacetate.
The main element in a dialyser is a semipermeable membrane through which small molecules can
pass by diffusion. Dialysers are encountered in medical work in renal dialysis where unwanted small
molecules (e.g. urea) and water can be removed from the body. Haemodialysers (sometimes called
artificial kidneys) take blood from the body and pass it along one side of the dialysing membrane so
that unwanted small molecules may diffuse into a special dialysing fluid passing along the other side.
Small molecules which need not be removed are included in the dialysate so that there is equal
diffusion of these molecules in each direction.
Product characteristics
The primary function of the artificial kidney is to purify the blood. The filtration medium used is
hollow viscose or hollow polyester fibre. The typical characteristics of the fabric are:
• Low linting,
• High durability,
• Good capillary action,
• Good absorbency,
• Biodegradability and
• Inert behaviour
Market for artificial kidney and future forecast
The average price of artificial kidneys or dialysers is around of Rs. 300 per unit. The haemodialysor
equipment is primarily imported into India and it has an institutional market. The dialysers and other
spare parts are also 100% imported.
The artificial kidney membrane or dialysers are 100% technical textile products made primarily of
polysulphone and polyacetate.
The current and future forecast of artificial kidney fabric consumption is given below:-