Dialysis device

Abstract

A dialysis apparatus for treating a patient with liver and/or kidney disease. In one embodiment a liver dialysis apparatus comprises an artificial liver. The artificial liver comprises a blood compartment, a vegetable protein compartment, and a clear dialysis compartment. In another embodiment the liver dialysis apparatus comprises cartridge made up of at least one layer of vegetable protein. In a further embodiment of the invention a dialysate regeneration device is provided which comprises at least one layer of vegetable protein. The vegetable protein is preferably a soy protein. The soy protein may be unmodified soy protein with urease enzyme activity, modified soy protein with or without urease activity, alone or in combination.

1 . A dialysate regeneration device, comprising: 
 at least one cation exchange layer;    at least one anion exchange layer; and    at least one absorbent layer, wherein the at least one absorbent layer comprises a vegetable protein.    
   
   
       2 . The dialysate regeneration device according to  claim 1  further comprising a layer of activated charcoal.  
   
   
       3 . The dialysate regeneration device according to  claim 1 , wherein the vegetable protein is essentially unmodified soy protein with urease activity.  
   
   
       4 . The dialysate regeneration device according to  claim 1 , wherein the vegetable protein is essentially unmodified soy protein with urease activity, and wherein the dialysate regeneration device further comprises an ammonia scavenger compound.  
   
   
       5 . The dialysate regeneration device according to  claim 1 , wherein the vegetable protein is modified soy protein lacking urease enzyme activity.  
   
   
       6 . The dialysate regeneration device according to  claim 1 , wherein the vegetable protein is modified soy protein in combination with active urease enzyme capable of converting urea into ammonia.