A Pacemaker for the Kidney

October 26, 2008

Nephera has invented a “pacemaker for a kidney,” which can extend the life of a kidney before final solutions need to be taken. “It’s a bridge to transplantation,” said Rhodes. Nephera’s solution—an implant based on a small pump—could increase the perfusion rate of a dying kidney from 30% up to 60% and can last four to five years. It works by creating a negative pressure around the kidney (a vacuum effect), causing an increase in renal blood flow. This has a therapeutic effect on a diseased kidney.

Increased pressure improves “the glomerular filtration rate,” an indicator that shows a kidney’s ability to filter out metabolites. If clinical studies go according to plan, the new implant could be available in Europe in as little as three years (with CE mark), while FDA approval for the US market will take more time.

Nephera is the first company in the world to develop a device that not only maintains, but improves renal functioning. This is good news also for diabetics and people suffering from hypertension that may be diagnosed with CRF in the near future. The company could also alleviate the heavy burden of CRF on healthcare systems. With the cost of a kidney transplant at about US $100,000, and the risks involved, Nephera could extend the lives and possibilities for people before they need to walk down that road.

Excerpts from an article by Karen Kloosterman,  www.israel21c.org

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