AWAK Technologies Developed Sorbent-Based Regeneration Technology for Hemodialysis

SINGAPORE and BURBANK, Calif., Oct. 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- AWAK Technologies announced today that it is extending its innovative sorbent technology platform to be used in haemodialysis systems. The technology is currently used in the company's wearable dialysis product, the peritoneal dialysis-based Automated Wearable Artificial Kidney (AWAK). The sorbent technology is a key component for dialysate regeneration used during dialysis session.

Conventional hemodialysis systems consume around 120 litres of ultra-pure water to make dialysate for a single dialysis session. The AWAK sorbent unit requires less than 6 litres of tap water and regenerates and reconstitutes spent dialysate into fresh dialysate. This unique feature eliminates the needs for expensive purification water system, thus, enabling dialysis to be performed in areas where such infrastructure is lacking. Lesser water equates to significantly lesser energy for heating the dialysate. AWAK new sorbent formulation also creates lesser flow resistance in comparison to current available sorbent cartridge, another energy saving feature that enables future battery-operated hemodialysis machine possible.

"Sorbent technology is the key for the next generation of small, portable and battery-powered haemodialysis machines, Automated Portable Artificial Kidney, APAK HD," said Dr. Gordon Ku, Chairman of AWAK Technologies.

"Our business strategy is to partner with suppliers of hemodialysis machines and empowering them to enter the home and portable market," said Mr. Kok Beng Neo, president and CEO of AWAK Technologies.

AWAK's distinctive sorbent formulation can be designed to cater to different form, size and shape to accommodate different dialysis modes and haemodialysis machine. It has a 30% size reduction from today's sorbent cartridges, increasing portability. In vitro experiments have shown AWAK sorbent cartridge is able to maintain a constant sodium level with neutral sodium and pH balance.

Dr. David B. N. Lee, Professor Emeritus of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Director of the Laboratory of Artificial Kidney Innovation and Development, Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System (VAGLA), and Chief Scientist of AWAK Technologies, commented, "In contrast to the currently popular single pass proportioning hemodialysis system, sorbent-based hemodialysis system does not require a continuous water source, plumbing for draining spent dialysate or complex and costly water treatment arrangement. The proposed battery-operated AWAK hemodialysis system also eliminates the need for a circuit power source, a requirement in the currently available sorbent-based dialysis configurations, thereby completely liberating the system from any tethering. Portability, logistical simplicity, low service and maintenance needs and the relative operative 'green-ness', make the AWAK hemodialysis system ideal for "multi-site" dialysis and position it in the forefront of the current world-wide interest in home-based hemodialysis. "

"The APAK HD will be a significant improvement over the sorbent hemodialysis machines now on the market," said Dr. Martin Roberts, Co-Director of the Laboratory for Artificial Kidney Innovation and Development, VAGLA Healthcare System, Principal Investigator of the VAi2 award, and Chief Scientist of AWAK Technologies.

About AWAK Technologies

AWAK Technologies was incorporated in 2007, with offices in Singapore and Burbank, CA, and dedicated to the research, development and marketing of sorbent-based kidney dialysis machine for the treatment of patients with end-stage renal disease. It was founded by Dr. Gordon Ku (Chairman of Kidney Dialysis Foundation), Dr. David B. N. Lee and Dr. Martin Roberts (both of the Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System and the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA), and Mr. Kok Beng Neo. Drs. Roberts and Lee are co-inventors of the technology, which was exclusively licensed by the University of California at Los Angeles and the Department of Veteran Affairs to AWAK Technologies. The company collaborates with Temasek Polytechnic in the engineering and development of its first wearable peritoneal dialysis product, AWAK PD Regular Cartridge.

Website: www.awak.com 

SOURCE AWAK Technologies