Research Leading Toward a Wearable Artificial Kidney: I. Highly Permeable Membranes. Ii. Laser Doppler Flowmeter

摘要

Techniques and apparatus were developed to permit (1) reproducible casting of modified cellulose acetate membranes in a controlled atmosphere, and (2) determination of permeabilities of the membrane to water, small solutes and blood proteins. The casting techniques permit the fabrication of membranes having water permeabilities up to 19-fold higher than that of typical cellophane dialysis tubing, while exhibiting better retention of bovine serum albumin. Reinforcement of the membranes with nylon monofilament cloth results in membranes having wet tensile strength 2.5 times higher than that of cellophane, without appreciable sacrifice in water permeability. Initial results are reported of studies of membrane structure, aiming at the correlation of permeabilities with casting variables and membrane morphology. Work on the laser Doppler flowmeter resulted in completion of construction of the flow system, test chambers, optical systems and electronic detection equipment. The apparatus was sucessfully used to detect heterodyning between various transverse laser modes. (Author)