Introduction to Hemodialysis:
What is Hemodialysis?
Hemodialysis is a medical procedure used to filter waste products, excess fluids, and toxins from the blood when the kidneys are no longer able to perform this function effectively. It is commonly used in patients with chronic kidney failure or acute kidney injuries.
How Does Hemodialysis Work?
In a hemodialysis procedure, blood is drawn from the patient and passed through a dialysis machine that contains a special filter known as a dialyzer or artificial kidney. The dialyzer has a semi-permeable membrane that allows waste products and excess fluids to pass from the blood into a dialysate solution, which is then discarded. Cleaned blood is returned to the patient’s body, completing the cycle.
Working Principle of the Model
In this working model, the plastic tubing represents blood vessels, and the pump simulates the heart’s action of moving blood through the system. The dialysis membrane acts as the dialyzer, where waste products are filtered out. The dialysate solution on the other side of the membrane absorbs these wastes, mimicking how hemodialysis removes toxins from the blood. The red and blue food coloring in the model helps visualize the flow and separation of waste products during the process.
Hemodialysis Applications:
Hemodialysis is a critical treatment for individuals with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) or severe kidney dysfunction. This model is an excellent educational tool to understand how hemodialysis works, demonstrating the process in a simplified way.
Making of hemodialysis working model
Creating a working model of hemodialysis is an excellent way to demonstrate how this life-saving medical procedure cleanses the blood of waste products in patients with kidney failure. Below are the instructions for making the model and an introduction to explain its working.
Materials Needed:
- Plastic tubing: To represent blood vessels and the dialysis circuit.
- Two plastic bottles: To simulate the blood and dialysate compartments.
- A small pump (manual or battery-operated): To circulate the “blood” through the system.
- Dialysis membrane (you can use a semi-permeable material like cellophane or a dialysis tubing kit): To act as the dialysis filter.
- Red and blue food coloring: To differentiate between oxygenated and deoxygenated blood.
- Water: To simulate blood and dialysate.
- Small container (for collecting “waste” from the blood): To simulate the removal of waste products.
- Glue or tape: For securing connections.
- Scissors or a craft knife: For cutting tubing and bottles.
- Clamps or clips: To control the flow of liquids.
Step-by-Step Video Instructions:
- Prepare the Blood Circuit:
- Fill one plastic bottle with water mixed with red food coloring to simulate the blood.
- Attach plastic tubing to the opening of this bottle. This will represent the blood vessel carrying blood to the dialysis machine.
- Create the Dialysis Chamber:
- Cut the second plastic bottle horizontally to create a chamber.
- Secure the dialysis membrane (cellophane or dialysis tubing) inside this bottle to divide it into two compartments: one for “blood” and the other for the “dialysate” solution.
- Attach a length of tubing from the first bottle (blood) to one side of the membrane inside the dialysis chamber.
- Attach another length of tubing to the other side of the membrane to carry the cleansed blood back to the body (or the blood bottle in the model).
- Prepare the Dialysate Circuit:
- Fill a separate container with water mixed with blue food coloring to simulate the dialysate solution.
- Attach tubing from this container to the other compartment of the dialysis chamber, representing the dialysate input.
- Attach another piece of tubing to drain the dialysate out after it has absorbed the waste products from the blood.
- Set Up the Pump:
- Connect the pump into the blood circuit (between the blood bottle and the dialysis membrane) to circulate the blood through the system. Ensure that the pump moves the red-colored water (simulated blood) through the tubing, into the dialysis chamber, and back out.
- If using a manual pump, squeeze it to move the water through the system. If using a battery-operated pump, turn it on to begin circulation.
- Test the Model:
- Once the pump is running, observe how the red-colored water passes through the dialysis membrane while the blue-colored dialysate absorbs the “waste” (in reality, the color does not change, but this is a conceptual model).
- The water returning to the blood bottle should be less colored, simulating the removal of impurities.
- Final Assembly:
- Secure all components firmly on a base, making sure there are no leaks and that the fluid flows smoothly through the system.
- Optionally, label each part of the model to explain its function in a real hemodialysis machine.