The acu-men(TM): A new device for continuous renal replacement therapy in acute renal failure

Abstract

Background. We sought to design a simple machine to safety provide continuous veno-venous hemofiltration to acute renal failure patients. Results. The acu-men(TM) device uses a pneumatic blood pump with tidal blood flow as the driving force. A volumetric balancing system balances the filtrate with the replacement fluid and the blood - air interface is eliminated by replacing the conventional venous drip chamber with two air- separating membranes. The extracorporeal circuit is integrated in a disposable cartridge, which is inserted into the machine at the beginning of treatment. The priming and rinsing is done automatically. Conclusion. While preliminary data from an ongoing clinical trial on the efficacy of this device are encouraging, further longer-term studies are necessary to evaluate its potential to decrease morbidity and mortality in acute renal failure patients.