Resource-Generating Dialysis System

Abstract

A dialysis system (e.g., a hemodialysis (HD) system) can be designed to operate in alternative environments, such as disaster relief settings or underdeveloped regions. The dialysis system can include a solar panel for generating electricity to power the dialysis machine and an atmospheric water generator for extracting water from ambient air. The extracted water can be used to generate dialysate and saline on-site. One or more of the components of the dialysis machine can be discrete components that are configured to facilitate fast shipping and simple on-site assembly (e.g., at a remote location). In some implementations, the discrete components may be configured to be attached to an existing dialysis system (e.g., a dialysis system designed for operation in a traditional environment) to permit the dialysis system to operate in an alternative environment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hemodialysis machine comprising:
 a generator configured to generate electricity in response to mechanical motions performed by an operator of the hemodialysis machine;   a blood pump configured to pump blood to and from a patient;   a processor in communication with the blood pump, the processor powered by the generated electricity and configured to control a dialysis treatment administered to the patient;   an atmospheric water generator that is powered by the generated electricity and configured to extract water from ambient air, wherein the extracted water is used to generate dialysate; and   a dialyzer configured to receive the blood and the dialysate, remove toxins from the blood, and provide filtered blood to the patient.   
     
     
         2 . The hemodialysis machine of  claim 1 , wherein the generator comprises one or both of a hand pump and a foot pump. 
     
     
         3 . The hemodialysis machine of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to control a flow rate of the blood pumped to and from the patient. 
     
     
         4 . The hemodialysis machine of  claim 1 , comprising a battery configured to store a charge derived from the generated electricity. 
     
     
         5 . The hemodialysis machine of  claim 1 , comprising a power source. 
     
     
         6 . The hemodialysis machine of  claim 5 , comprising a battery configured to store a charge derived from the electricity provided by one or both of the generator and the power source. 
     
     
         7 . The hemodialysis machine of  claim 1 , comprising a water heater configured to heat the extracted water. 
     
     
         8 . The hemodialysis machine of  claim 1 , comprising a sorbent device configured to remove toxins from spent dialysate flowing from the dialyzer. 
     
     
         9 . The hemodialysis machine of  claim 1 , comprising a forward osmosis container that comprises:
 a first compartment configured to store a salt concentrate;   a second compartment configured to receive the extracted water; and   a membrane that separates the first compartment from the second compartments, the membrane configured to allow the extracted water to mix with the salt concentrate to produce a saline solution.   
     
     
         10 . A peritoneal dialysis (PD) machine comprising:
 a power source configured to generate electricity;   an atmospheric water generator configured to be powered by the generated electricity and configured to extract water from ambient air, wherein the extracted water is used to generate a PD solution; and   a pump configured to pump the PD solution to and from an abdominal cavity of a patient, wherein toxins are removed from blood of the patient as the PD solution resides in the abdominal cavity.   
     
     
         11 . The peritoneal dialysis machine of  claim 10 , wherein the power source is selected from a group consisting of: solar power source, mechanical actuated power source and battery power source.