"However, the long-term effect of this technology on the well-being of dialysis patients must be demonstrated in much-needed clinical trials," adds Gura. "Although successful, this is but one additional step on a long road still ahead of us to bring about a much-needed change in the lives of this population."

Other authors were Alexandra S. Macy, Masoud Beizai, and Carlos Ezon (Xcorporeal, Inc); and Thomas A. Golper, MD (Vanderbilt University Medical Center). Dr. Gura receives a salary from Xcorporeal, Inc.

Additionally, significant contributions to the development of this new device were made by Hans Dietrich Polaschegg, PhD, Andrew Davenport, MD, Claudio Ronco MD, Andre Kaplan, MD, and Eli Friedman, MD.

The study entitled, "Technical Breakthroughs in the Wearable Artificial Kidney (WAK)," will appear online at cjasn.asnjournals/ on August 20, 2009, doi 10.2215/CJN.02790409.

www.medsch.ucla